andrew p long
Very well known Exeweb poster
Two big questions.
First what is the true position about players out of contract/leaving versus players signed up? Lots of rumour but very little solid fact or confirmed by the club (just MJ,Kite and some youngsters signed up). Stories that Atangana has signed on reduced money for next year, Taylor has sold his house and is leaving. Bowman and Williams are out of contract, not signing new deals and coveted by others. Ten players are out of contract? - not confirmed but not difficult to believe (say Ward,Maxted, Sweeney, Parkes,Page, Atangana,Taylor, Williams, Bowman Fisher and Ajose makes 11!)
Secondly what is the club's financial position? Uncertain I'd say. We've burnt through the £4m received for the sales in the year from July 2017. We have got another £3m+ for the Watkins sell ons, but money is flying out the door at a rate of knots. Fans possibly back next season, but how often and under what circumstances? (social distancing, Covid passports? negative test necessary each game if not vaccinated?) And will Covid make a permanent reduction in attendances after an initial bounce back of fans who have been missing their fix? The optimism that there would be cash to burn in the budget took a hit in January when the money spent on wages of new players coming in was broadly equal to money saved on players going out - no budget increase evident from the reduced level of last summer?
First what is the true position about players out of contract/leaving versus players signed up? Lots of rumour but very little solid fact or confirmed by the club (just MJ,Kite and some youngsters signed up). Stories that Atangana has signed on reduced money for next year, Taylor has sold his house and is leaving. Bowman and Williams are out of contract, not signing new deals and coveted by others. Ten players are out of contract? - not confirmed but not difficult to believe (say Ward,Maxted, Sweeney, Parkes,Page, Atangana,Taylor, Williams, Bowman Fisher and Ajose makes 11!)
Secondly what is the club's financial position? Uncertain I'd say. We've burnt through the £4m received for the sales in the year from July 2017. We have got another £3m+ for the Watkins sell ons, but money is flying out the door at a rate of knots. Fans possibly back next season, but how often and under what circumstances? (social distancing, Covid passports? negative test necessary each game if not vaccinated?) And will Covid make a permanent reduction in attendances after an initial bounce back of fans who have been missing their fix? The optimism that there would be cash to burn in the budget took a hit in January when the money spent on wages of new players coming in was broadly equal to money saved on players going out - no budget increase evident from the reduced level of last summer?
