Rowe did not do enough to earn deal
OF the eight players that have been released by promotion-winning Exeter City this week, perhaps the biggest surprise in the list was the name of Callum Rowe.
Signed as a left-back following his release from Premier League giants Aston Villa – and following a successful trial with the Grecians – the 22-year-old had a strong end to the season after returning from a loan spell with National South side Bath City.
Rowe had failed to cement a first team place at Twerton Park and had been on the bench when the call came to return to Exeter following the Grecians’ 2-0 win at Oldham Athletic in which midfielders Kyle Taylor suffered a serious knee injury and Nigel Atangana was shown a straight red card for a poor tackle.
Devoid of midfielders, with Tim Dieng and Harry Kite injured, Rowe was a surprise starter when Exeter headed to Port Vale on March 22. But Rowe stood up to the test and earned huge praise from his manager for his impressive performance in a goalless draw at Vale Park.
Better followed when Rowe was named the sponsors’ man of the match for his display in a 2-1 win at home to Stevenage four days later and he kept the shirt again for the crucial 1-0 win at promotion rivals Newport County at the beginning of April.
In total. Rowe made ten appearances in all competitions for Exeter, but perhaps his move from left-back to a more favoured central midfield role ended up being his downfall with City well stocked in that area and Taylor feeling he fell just short of what would be required in League One for next season.
“I know he had a positive end to the season with a bit of game time, but it wasn’t enough over the course of the season,” the City boss said. “Obviously he came in a slightly different position to what he ended up playing and it
took us a while to really relocate him on the football pitch and give him his best opportunity to perform well.
“Then he did perform well when he got his opportunity in the first team and he got that out of being in the right place at the right time and when we had injuries and suspension in that first team pack.
“You also have to remember who we’ve got contracted in those central midfield positions and we feel with Archie and Tim - and especially Harry Kite, who has been injured for much of the second half of this season - we could overstock that central midfield position with too many similar players.
“Harry Kite is contracted, he has been with us for a long time and we saw a lot of him earlier in the season before he got injured, so we have to be really mindful of where we spend the money and what we spend the money on. “We could easily have given Callum a contract and sent him out on loan, but that’s not always beneficial for the club or the player.
“Any player we re-sign, or sign in the future, we have to be really strong in our mindset that they are going to improve and they will improve this current group.”
Meanwhile, the Grecians are being linked with a move for Barnsley striker George Miller, who is believed to be available on a free transfer.
The 23-year-old spent the season on-loan at League Two Walsall, where he scored 12 goals in 47 appearances, while Bradford City are also said to be keen on his services.