Grecians boss looks ahead to Hartlepool trip
EXETER CITY manager Paul Tisdale was enjoying the lack of a midweek match this week as he prepares the Grecians for the long Sky Bet League 2 trip to Hartlepool United this weekend.The Grecians were 2-1 winners over Accrington Stanley on Saturday, but are now in the midst of seven days' preparation for the next fixture, a luxury which has been rare in recent weeks.
"We're used to the schedule, it's our profession," Paul said. "Literally every day, we're waiting to see where we're training, which is dependent on the weather. It's part of being in footballer, this uncertainty, but what is important is that we have a good, healthy squad and plenty of players are playing their part. There will be more than eleven players taking part over the next three months, and we need to be flexible and ready to react, whatever happens.
"Jordan Moore-Taylor will be a doubt for Saturday. There are further doubts on Lee Holmes and David Noble, but we do have plenty available also. I'd rather have everyone fit, but it's nice to not have a midweek game for the first time in a while. We have to get fully-focused again, and hopefully use the next few games to get our form up again."
Speculation continues as to the futures of certain Exeter City players, as was always to be the case during the January window, but the City manager insisted that there was no news to report in terms of players leaving the club.
"You have to have an open mind continually, because you might end up selling one of your players and then you suddenly have to move quickly to replace him," he said. "My experience of this transfer window tells me that things often happen late, but that just means that we have to be ready to react. There's certainly been interest in our players, and an offer has come in for Tom [Nichols], but I'm certainly not surprised. He continues to play well, and that will attract any club looking to sign a young goalscorer. He scored again on Saturday, but he's still an Exeter City player, which tells you that we haven't received an offer that we're comfortable with. If he doesn't go in this window, I'm more than happy for him to stay with us; he's been with us since he was ten, and we certainly value him. But every player is for sale - I have an open mind to any offer for any player from any club.
"We've had interest which has turned into strong conversations about money, and some offers have come in, but nothing which has come close to how we value him. Until there is a strong offer, he will remain with Exeter City. His job is to keep playing, and I'm sure Tom will knuckle down for the rest of the season if the window shuts and he's still with the club. We're very fortunate not to have any cash flow issues, and we don't need to sell, but we're not in the habit of standing in players' and coaches' ways if they want to leave, either. I'm more than happy for any of our players to have an ambition to go to a higher level."