KEEPER IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR CITY MANAGER
FOLLOWING the release of both his first team goalkeepers, Jonny Maxted and Lewis Ward, a new shot-stopper is a top priority on the summer shopping list of Exeter City manager Matt Taylor.
Both Ward, who ended the campaign on-loan at League One side Portsmouth, and Maxted have had an up-and-down two years in Devon with both struggling from fluctuating form and injury.
Ward began as Taylor’s first choice after arriving from Reading, but a broken arm in a 1-1 draw at Crewe Alexandra in October 2019 set him back. Maxted came in and performed well before he too was injured, allowing Ward to reclaim the jersey.
Maxted was preferred for the harrowing League Two play-off final defeat to Northampton Town a year ago, only for Ward to start this season as the number one. Eventually, with neither able to nail the place down, Taylor brought in Jokull Andresson from Reading and he went on to keep 11 clean sheets in 32 appearances, whilst establishing himself as a real fans’ favourite.
Taylor admits that bringing the 19-year-old Icelander back to St James Park is something he would love to do, but is conscious of the fact that his superb form for City has alerted many other clubs and Andresson may play higher than League Two next season.
“He is top of that list, but we also recognise that he is Reading’s player,” Taylor said. “How well he has done for us means that he will have more suitors elsewhere and maybe at another level.
“I know that there has been Premier League teams looking at him, so they could be buying from Reading, let alone him coming back to League Two. If he goes back out on loan, then would he go to the Championship or League One?
“If it’s League Two, then we’d like to think we are in the box seat for that, but we have to be realistic in terms of what his future will look like. We’ve put ourselves into the best position that we can do with Jokull and we have built a good relationship with Reading off the back of that.
“I can’t just wait until the last day of pre-season before I can sign him, I want to sign the right players that we need for an early start in relation to pre-season and also the season.”
On his reasons for letting both Ward, who made 33 appearances for the club, and Maxted (39 appearances) go, Taylor said: “Neither of them have been able to grasp the number one jersey as we wanted them to, or hoped they would.
“Both have had glimpses in terms of form and a run of games, but neither one - through form - has been able to say to me: ‘I’m your number one.’
“I never felt fully comfortable going into a run of games to say that you are definitely going to be my number one for a whole season, or half a season, which is what you want from your goalkeeper. The only time I was able to do that was when Jokull came into the club.
“I think it is important to say that both have been unlucky. Lewis had a broken arm in his first season and another bad injury in his second season, while Jonny Maxted had a side injury at the end of his first season and then a dislocated knee cap and a broken finger, so that hasn’t helped in relation to that.
“You can say that is circumstance, but I still want more in relation to that number one jersey. Christy Pym has gone on to bigger and better things because he was an outstanding number one and he was always the number one and Jokull has come in and done the same.
“Lewis Ward’s age suggested he had the best chance of making that number one jersey his, but he wanted to go out on loan in January, which is understandable, but he went out on loan and sat on a bench. That said to me that the move was far too comfortable – whether it was Portsmouth or whoever, that was irrelevant. It’s all about going out and playing and proving yourself.”
Although Under-18 ‘keeper Jack
Arthur has signed for next season, Taylor may bring in two goalkeepers this summer as he awaits a decision on Academy star Harry Lee, who has spent part of the season on the Grecians’ bench. The highly-rated 15-year-old has also spent time on trial at a host of top clubs – he was training at Everton last week – but Taylor hopes he commits to the Grecians, where he could soon establish himself as the number one, despite his tender age.
“If we knew he definitely wasn’t going to sign, then I could look at recruiting two keepers straight away, but we are hopeful that Harry Lee will sign and then there’s a pathway for him,” Taylor said.
“Jack Arthur has signed, so we do have one – possibly two – goalkeepers already contracted and if we keep one with a view to bringing another one in on top of that, then you are wasting money and blocking pathways. I’ll always do what is best for the football club.
“We expect Jack Arthur to go out on loan and Harry Lee is a fantastic prospect, but he is not quite ready for what we need just yet. He will be in and around the first team.
“I am still looking to recruit one, possibly two, depending on how the structure works and depending on what Harry Lee does.
“I would love to have those answers right now, but that will run all the way until the end of June, I’m afraid.”