Tisdale Talks to the Guardian: “We’re out on a limb here in Devon”

The Guardian has today published an article with the Exeter City manager, Paul Tisdale. The interview has taken place with the Guardian’s James Riach.

It does of course mentions his attire, and tiresomely it managed to get a mention of Michael Jackson having been an Honorary Director during our dark days.

Of more interest is the following in the article:-

People may describe me as eccentric but it’s mainly about not being scared to be my own person. I’m prepared to stand there and present myself differently. I’ve had stick for hats and coats. Any supporter whose team is getting beaten at home and there is some guy wearing a suit jacket, a flat cap and a cravat, they can’t help but say something.

As a player I don’t think I was myself, I wasn’t the norm. Culturally I felt I was never affected or could affect the situation, that’s quite a negative position to be in. You could try harder and run around more but I didn’t feel it was something I could really make an impact on. That was life, football in the 80s and 90s.

We’re out on a limb here in Devon. If you’re coming from London there are a lot of clubs you drive past before you get to Exeter. But the players here need us as much as we need them.

If you’re an agent or a father, or a player who has fallen on hard times, we’re either the first call you make or the last call you make. They’ll call us at the start because they know Exeter are a good fit, or they try every other club for two years and think: ‘Oh God, I’ve got to go to Exeter.’

The full article can be found on the Guardian website here.