Exeter City: Only 1 of Gary Caldwell’s first 6 January signings have worked out
January 2023 was one of the more explosive mid-season transfer windows at St James Park but it isn’t one that’s stood the test of time.
Six players arrived as Gary Caldwell went about putting his stamp on his new Exeter City side after replacing Matt Taylor, who headed to Rotherham United in October 2022.
However, while it was a change in direction from the academy-focused squad of his predecessor, five of those who came in either flopped or didn’t last long.
It’s only Demetri Mitchell who’s proven to be any good, though he missed a full 12 months with a serious knee injury, so even that’s up for debate really.
What isn’t in question is his quality and he should be a big player for City in the second half of this season, as he showed with a stoppage-time equaliser in Sunday’s dramatic comeback against Crawley Town to secure a point from 4-1 down.
Joining Mitchell in January 2023 was goalkeeper Gary Woods, centre-back Will Aimson, veteran midfielder Kevin McDonald, striker James Scott and Newcastle United loanee Joe White.
Now, building from the back, Woods made a total of nine appearances for City, largely as injury cover for Jamal Blackman and then as clear second choice to Viljami Sinisalo last season before leaving on a free transfer to head back north of the border.
Aimson was up against it from the off as a former Plymouth Argyle player, but it was Caldwell’s decision to give him the captaincy, which was up for grabs after Matt Jay joined Colchester United, over City great and firm fan favourite Pierce Sweeney, that caused his biggest issues.
To his credit, Sweeney never moaned and seemed to be onside with the decision, but there was only one man the City faithful wanted leading their side out, and it wasn’t the wildly inconsistent former Argyle man who had just arrived.
Aimson took some stick and forced his way out at the first opportunity. Frankly, it was good riddance when he demanded to be allowed to join Wigan Athletic in the summer and it was hard to see how he was supposed to be so much better than the likes of Alex Hartridge and Cheick Diabate.
In midfield, the arrival of McDonald was generally well received, and his Premier League experience showed on the pitch as he helped City improve their midfield nous in the second half of the season.
The Scotland international blotted his copybook with many of the Grecian faithful as he rejected an extension on his six-month deal and went down a division to join Bradford City.
At least he’s seen the error of his ways and made a shock comeback in November of 2024 to rejoin City as a playing mentor to the prodigious 17-year-old Jake Richards. If Richards does sign pro terms with his boyhood club then all will be forgiven. No pressure, Kev.
