I genuinely don't think he sees it like that and instead sees his job as helping our players become the best they can be; if they then move to better things then so be it. Instead he seems to be creating a conveyor belt of players ready to replace the ones who leave. If Collins moves on, Kite is ready to take his place; if Sparkes goes we have Smerdon; for Randall or Williams there is Iseguan and so on.
Even with the best will in the world our conveyour belt of talent will dry up from time to time, It happens at clubs, Ten or so years ago Southampton had shed loads of talent that came through (Most ended up at Liverpool!) but it did dry up, But being a PL club they have the money to buy. We did see here a few years back what happened when our revenue stream dried up. At the moment we're on a real cusp regarding our Academy and MT must be so happy this season with the youngsters doing the job, As you remember pre season he told us it would be a "Season of Transition" and because of finances would utilise the youngsters and also told us not to expect too much but with nearly a third of the season gone we have been exceptional and doing better than anyone of us thought. I think you're right about wanting and encouraging the lads to be the best they can be and to any youngster you see at ECFC if you're good enough and work hard you will get your chance.
Nick Hawker, the Trust Chair, pretty much agreed with all this at the recent AGM.
Matt has many strengths as a coach and a manager but surely his biggest one is his ability to work with and improve young players and integrate them into the first team. Just look at the success he's had with Storey, Collins, O'Shea, Williams, Sparkes and now Key and Randall. I'm also guessing he gets a lot of satisfaction out of this as well. The problem for him, then, is which other clubs are going to offer him a better opportunity to do this than Exeter. The only clubs I can think of that compare are Crewe and Brentford.
Many of those clubs will still demand success in the short term though. Big clubs in league one will demand promotion regardless of anything else.
I think that Covid has dampened demands on a lot of clubs, A decent Academy will take time to set up and produce players, I agree it will take a brave owner to sell a project like this to the ever demanding fans though.
We probably are TPC, Like you I'm pleased with MT, A great replacement from our last incumbant but its nice to look up rather than down.
League position has nothing to do with it, anyone can see we're a very good team.