I knew I wasn’t crazy, says Tisdale as Exeter eye promotion
SIX months ago Paul Tisdale, the Football League’s longest serving manager, faced calls from fans to be axed as Exeter City slipped to the foot of the table.
Having weathered the storm amid a crippling injury crisis during the opening months of the season, Tisdale got his walking wounded back on the pitch and the club steadily climbed the table.
Yet during the club’s darkest hour, Tisdale was scoffed at as he repeatedly told supporters to keep the faith.
Now the Grecians stand on the brink of an incredible rise from the ashes when they face Blackpool in this afternoon’s League Two play-off final at Wembley.
‘When we were bottom of the table in November I was still saying this was the best group of players I have had in seven or eight years,’ said Tisdale, who led Exeter back into the Football League thanks to a Conference play-off final win over Cambridge in 2008.
‘People thought I was crazy but I really believed it.
‘I said it with a conviction because I know what we have got in the dressing room. We had injuries and I just couldn’t put a side out. I knew we would be competitive once we got players back.
‘Now everyone is excited but we need to get the balance right between the occasion and winning the game and getting promoted. What I do know is we can’t take anything for granted.’
Ironically Tisdale has a virtually fully fit squad to choose from for today’s final — a sharp contrast to the patched-up outfit who lost 2-0 at Blackpool on the opening day of the season.
Winger Lee Holmes has bounced back from five months of injury hell and admits he is fired up to put the seal on Exeter’s rollercoaster season.
Holmes, 30, said: ‘I can remember Tis (Tisdale) texting me while I was in my hospital bed wishing me a speedy recovery.
‘He told me not to lose hope and to work really hard to get back playing. I knew at that moment my sole aim was to work my socks off to get back for the end of the season and the play-offs.
‘To be able to play in a game like this after five months out is amazing.
‘I just thank the manager for having faith in me and all I want to do is pay him back.’