Exeter City: Carlisle United deal shows issues interfering with Gary Caldwell promise – View
Exeter City suffered a big transfer setback this week as Jordan Jones opted to head to League Two side Carlisle United rather than the South West.
The former Wigan Athletic wide man was heavily linked with a move to EX4 after his short-term contract was mutually terminated at The Brick Community Stadium.
Last Thursday evening, journalist Alan Nixon reported that Jones was joining City on the following Friday but, as the day came and went without any updates, fans started to worry it wasn’t happening.
Paul Kendrick of the Wigan Observer says City had offered the Northern Ireland international a two-year deal but the extra year from the Cumbrians helped swing it in their favour.
What we don’t know is whether City increased the length of their offer or not, but if they didn’t it shows incredible budget discipline and financial responsibility which might have meant they missed out on a player who was both needed and would have added quality to the squad.
Exeter City won’t blow budget on transfers
It’s set to be a chaotic last few days behind the scenes at St James Park, with Caldwell saying after Saturday’s game: “I am very clear what we want, it is not clear who that will be. It will be a difficult week but we know what we need.
“The squad needs a little bit of help in terms of quality and numbers, but I cannot fault the effort of the group we have.
“We are doing a lot right, little things are hurting us, and we have to be clear in how we are going to win it and carry it out. We hope to have some in, but I am not sure how close they will be.”
Some City fans might have been hoping the money finally received for Josh Key’s move to Swansea last summer might have been put into this window’s budget, but that might not be the case.
“I can’t talk about Josh Key,” he continued. “The budget is the budget. I am happy with what the budget is, know what it has been all summer and we work hard to get players within that budget.”
Jordan Jones snub sums up City’s transfer difficulties
The Jones saga just highlighted all the old issues City face in securing new players – financial constraints and logistical issues, mostly the location.
When you consider that Wigan and Carlisle are around two hours apart by car, a Wigan to Exeter road trip is more than double that, and that Jones was offered a three-year-deal compared to two at St James Park, it’s a no-brainer for a player who’s going to be 30 in October.
During his unveiling at Carlisle, he admitted that staying in the north of England played a big part in his decision.
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