Exeter City's journey from near-bankruptcy to League One stability showcases the power of fan ownership. Their academy, shrewd leadership, and focus on sustainable growth, despite a limited budget, defy conventional football narratives. The club's FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest highlights the importance of such ties, even without the financial windfalls of replays.
The big thing for me is showing everybody the values of the club,' says Exeter City chief executive Joe Gorman. He and his team at St James Park are getting ready for one of their biggest games in years as they host Premier League high-flyers Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup fourth round on Tuesday. Exeter City have been owned by their supporters - they were the first professional club in England to do it, after the previous regime ran City into the ground.
In May 2003, chairman John Russell and vice-chairman Mike Lewis left the club with almost £5m of debt, holes in the training ground and a side that had been relegated into non-league football.Exeter City have made more than £6m from homegrown England striker Ollie Watkins in transfer fees and add-ons over the years. But off the back of savvy leadership and a focus on an academy that has provided millions of pounds in revenue, thanks to selling the likes of Ollie Watkins, Jay Stansfield and Ethan Ampadu, Exeter are thriving. Thanks in part to those windfalls, the Grecians boast a multi-million-pound training complex, a ground that has had two new stands built in recent years, and they still have an academy that is the envy of most clubs in Leagues One and Two - all achieved through fan ownership rather than the benevolence of a vastly wealthy owner or the backing of major conglomerate. 'We are kind of sustainable in League One at the moment, but we're sustainable with one of the lowest budgets in the league, so it's that success looks slightly different for us,' explains Gorman. 'My big thing within the club and when I came into the club is I never want to be 'little old Exeter City', we just have to do it a different way. 'The Exeter City way is doing things differently, and I don't think that takes away from our ambitions, it just makes them a bit harder to get to. 'We're constantly looking at progressing. I think what the last 20 years has indicated is that progression is probably smaller steps. We're never going to get the big bang, but if we're run properly, sustainably, we've shown that we can progress.'While for some top sides the FA Cup is a distraction from the league or European ambitions, there is no doubting the importance of the competition at St James Park. Those dark days of the early 2000s were made a lot lighter thanks to the revenue Exeter got when they United brought back the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville for the replay 11 days later, whichThe money from those ties - plus a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) - helped to wipe Exeter's debts and started them on a trajectory back to where they are now in League One. But it is a situation which may never happen again, after replays were abolished this season - so Exeter will not benefit from a trip to the City Ground and the money that would bring should they hold Forest on Tuesday night. 'The Manchester United tie 20 years ago is historically associated with the club and to take that away it doesn't sit that well with lower league clubs,' Gorman says.'That's generational wealth,' says Gorman, 'the kind that sets the club up for the next 20 years, and we've benefited from that.Exeter will bring in around £650,000 in ticket revenue for Tuesday's sold-out match. But Gorman estimates that they would at least double, if not quadruple, the gate money if the game was hosted by Forest. 'If we're on TV we can do different things with our corporate sponsors, hopefully give them a bit of a boost in terms of profile, and it shows the opportunity of being associated with Exeter,' he says.'Naturally from a complete non-emotional, financial, point of view, the ties are obviously better away, but I think to me the opportunity being at home, showing off what Exeter City is, is probably more than the financial reward of being on an away tie.'Exeter's highest league finish is eighth in League One in 2011, when they were a point off the play-off places. That season Brighton won the title and Southampton were promoted automatically, while Bournemouth lost in the play-off semi-finals. All three are now in the Premier League. While reaching the top flight might be a bridge too far for a club with a stadium capacity of less than 9,000 and no mega-wealthy owner, could a berth in the Championship be too much to ask for one day?'I think there's a lot to be said about the way we're run, and actually if you look at what successful clubs should look like I think we are the epitome of what a successful club should look like. 'For that to not allow us to get to the ambitions of the Championship as quickly as we can isn't a reflection on us, it's probably more of a reflection on football in genera
EXETER CITY FAN OWNERSHIP FOOTBALL ACADEMY FA CUP NOTTINGHAM FOREST LEAGUE ONE SUSTAINABLE GROWTH BUDGET SUCCESS
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Exeter City Upsets Oxford United to Reach FA Cup Fourth RoundExeter City secured a historic victory against Oxford United, advancing to the FA Cup fourth round for the first time in over four decades.
Read more »
FA Cup: Exeter City relish 'amazing' draw against Nottingham ForestExeter City manager Gary Caldwell says he is excited by the prospect of playing Premier League high-fliers Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup fourth round.
Read more »
Exeter City Mourns Departure of TristanExeter City manager Gary Caldwell expresses disappointment over the departure of loan player Tristan to a new club. Tristan made a significant impact during his time with the Grecians, scoring four goals in 26 appearances. His departure adds to the club's defensive woes.
Read more »
Huddersfield Complete Dramatic Comeback, Exeter City Struggle, Birmingham Lead in League OneHuddersfield Town fight back from a 2-0 deficit to draw with Blackpool, while Exeter City face cramp and Wycombe aim for a ninth away win. Birmingham City lead in League One.
Read more »
Exeter City v Leyton Orient: League One stats & head-to-headFollow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Exeter City v Leyton Orient in League One.
Read more »
Roman Pottery and Human Remains Unearthed in Exeter City Centre During Underground WorkRoman pottery and human remains have been discovered during the installation of an underground substation in Exeter city centre. The project, led by National Grid, involved excavating a new access point in the basement of the former Waterstones building. Archaeologists, given a rare opportunity to explore the city's subterranean history, found Roman pottery dating back to Exeter's time as the regional capital, Isca Dumnoniorum, and an early medieval fired clay weight. The recovery of some dislocated human bone is hoped to represent the remains of Exeter's early medieval citizens. The discoveries offer valuable insights into Exeter's development following the collapse of Roman Britain.
Read more »