Season 2003/04 Review 

The beginning of a new era 

In the Summer of 2003  the chance to step in and help the club arrived, the Exeter City Supporters Trust were in a very good position to run Exeter City on a day to day basis, albeit, at first on a temporary arrangement. This happened after Devon and Cornwall Police raided the club offices and the homes of Russell and Lewis, and took them, along with Russell's wife, off for questioning. The Police also took away various paperwork as part of their investigation into financial irregularities at St James' Park. Former chairman Ivor Doble asked the Trust to take charge, and in the meantime, after long and detailed discussions, he passed his majority shareholding to the Trust. At one stage it looked as if the deal might fall through, but by then the leading members of the Trust were determined not to see Exeter City FC die.

That determination and enthusiasm was needed all last season and particularly at the start, for during the few short weeks of of the 2003 summer, a substantial sum of money had to be raised just get through and ensure that the Grecians could take their place in the Nationwide Conference on the opening day of the season. There was an amazing amount of hard work, both raising finance and from a band of volunteers who beavered away on working on the ground and the stands, which had been neglected for years.

Gary Peters had decided not to return to Exeter once the season was over and the change of ownership had taken place. So the Club had to once again go for a new manager, but it was a hugely popular move when Eamonn Dolan was offered and accepted the position in June 2003. He had the vast experience of Steve Perryman to call upon once more, who returned to the City to offer his advice and generally work as Dolan's assistant.

It was a whole new adventure for everyone, members of the Trust now in control of the club, sponsors, management and players and of course the supporters, as they were about to watch the unfamiliar teams such as Leigh RMI and Margate.

It was still a struggle, and the Club began to see some light when they successfully negotiated a CVA with it's creditors. Unfortunately the Inland Revenue were not impressed and were still following a path of challenging the ruling in Court at the end of the season.

Dolan worked wonders with the players he had, promoting youngsters through the system and blood them early into the first team. Amazingly City were in a challenging play-off place for virtually the whole of the season, and only a poor run of results towards the end of the campaign prevented them from making an attempt to win back a Football League place at the first attempt.

It seemed that every week a new obstacle was placed in the clubs way. Not least of which was the threat of points being deducted by the Conference; then points being docked because of a player being allegedly registered after a transfer embargo was in place. City kept their points.

Trust members - of which there were over 1400 by seasons end, were asked to put their hands in their pockets on more than one occasion to stave off further cash- flow problems. There was a real buzz and positive feeling about the Park for the first time in several seasons. This was now a people's club a supporters owned club- a real community club.

This was reflected in the massive amount of help now being volunteered to undertake all manner of jobs at St James' Park and the Cat and Fiddle training ground. It really was the start of hopefully bright new dawn for Exeter City Football Club.

It might not have been the ideal time to have lost one's Football League status just as the Club celebrates 100 years of existence, but since that fateful day last season, when 9,000 (the published figure, the estimates of the police and others were significantly different) people were inside the ground for the final home match and hundreds locked out, outside, things really have got better.

The club pulled off a huge coup by managing to a match against the Brazil Masters side at the end of the season, to raise a substantial amount of much needed cash, if only for the hard work and long days day after day - by those entrusted in now running the club.

There were still countless problems to overcome, some of which seem quite daunting, but since the Trust gained control. the Club managed to solve each one as they occurred. One important aspect of the revival in recent months was that the club were far from out of danger.  There are still huge financial obstacles to be removed. For the first time in a very long while, Exeter City Football Club really does have a future

Brief Summary 

In the League Exeter finished 6th. 
Played: 42 Won: 19, Drew: 12, Lost: 11
Goals For: 71, Goals Against: 57 Points: 69

They failed to reach the First Round proper of the FA Cup, however in the FA Trophy Exeter did make the Quarter-Final.

They also contested the Football League Trophy too, but lost in the First Round.

FA Cup
Fourth Qualifying Round: Gravesend & Northfleet (H), 0-0. Replay (A), 3-3. Exeter lost 5-6 on penalties.

FA Trophy (Exeter entered at the Third Round)
Third Round: Hereford United (H), 3-2.
Fourth Round: King’s Lynn (A), 0-3.
Fifth Round: Arlesey Town (H), 3-0.
Quarter Final: Aldershot Town (A), 2-1.

Football League Trophy
First Round South: Hereford United (A), 2-0.


Eamonn Dolan writing in the last programme of the season v Accrington Stanley.

The time has absolutely flown by this season. So much has happened to put the smiles back on everyones faces, despite many setbacks along the way, but the true spirit of Exeter City FC has always shone through and any obstacles have been overcome. This is due to an enormous amount of work from everyone connected with the Club, and I also include the supporters in that accolade, for your backing this season, both home and away, has been nothing short of tremendous. I always felt that the race for the play off places in the Conference would go to the wire and I have always believed that if it goes to the final day of the season, with a mathematical chance of getting into the play-offs, we would do it. We have to ensure that we achieve the result we need, before worrying about anyone or anywhere else to work in our favour. It wasn't meant to be at last weekend, and now we have it all to do against Accrington Stanley. Whatever happens, we want to go out on a high, if only to reward everyone at the Park for the way in which they have stuck by us in our dark days. It seems incredible that this time last year, we were heading out of The Football League, followed by the very real threat of the Club being extinct in next to no time. The supporters have rallied round, the Trust now have control of the Club, and supporters and sponsors are now being treated as they should be, with respect and much thanks for the time, effort and cash that they invest in the their/our club.

Everyone must keep the faith, not just today, but for the future as well. Exeter City have an enthusiastic and dedicated team of people guiding them and there is much to look forward to, both on and off the field, in the coming weeks and months. Thank you one and all for coming along to the Park today and helping put the pride and passion back into Exeter City Football Club this season.

How the shares were acquired
by David Treharne.


How the Deal was done 

The events leading up to Mr. Doble agreeing to relinquish his shares was protracted, and took me from optimism to despair, despair to numb disbelief and suddenly to euphoria. Having received instructions from the Trustees to undertake negotiations, since Ian Huxham was going to be on holiday and wasn't to be contacted so that he had 'a rest', I carried out my instructions and was asked to put together a written contract to present to Mr. Doble.

The Trust were advised to contact Anstey, Foot, Sargent, as being skilled enough to put together quickly a contract which would deal with both the immediate implications and also the longer term issues of obtaining the shares. From meeting with Ed. Probert a senior partner of the firm at 10.00am in the morning, he undertook searches, took advice from colleagues and drafted a proposal by just after 1700 the same day.

This draft document was then copied to Geoffrey Styles 'our Trustee in Frankfurt', for comments and observations. At 10.00 the next day it was formally given to Mr. Doble's legal representatives. If one day is a long time in politics, three days waiting for a reply seemed a lifetime, especially as at the end of this first session the terse answer was a "No" to the proposal. This was followed the next day, by a protracted meeting between legal advisors, the 'new' board members and the former directors and their representatives. At the end of that meeting Ed Probert suggested that we offer an amended version of the original offer to Mr. Doble with a short deadline for agreement this case 36 hours. in

This was done, and 30 minutes before the deadline, we heard that subject to some further discussions Mr. Doble had agreed to our terms, and wished to sign as quickly as possible. By 10.00 Ed Probert and I were sitting with Mr. Doble and his legal representatives. One thing had been forgotten, we needed another Trustee to witness the signature. A phone call to Martin Ellicott brought him at speed to undertake the required witnessing. All that remained to happen was the share transfer and at 15.00 the same day we all met again, minus Martin, but plus Simon Armitage from Armitage and Co, solicitors to witness the share transfer. After notifying the other Trustees of the outcome, I must admit that I allowed a glass of Weston's medium Cider to glide across my lips. However, the outcome depended upon several factors that it would be easy to overlook, but which need to be mentioned.

Firstly, the willingness of Mr. Doble to sell the shares to the Trust, which I believe he thinks is the right way to carry the club forward.

Secondly, Ed. Probert has been a towering figure in representing the Trust. Perhaps most importantly it was the weight of the 1,000 plus people who had been persuaded to join the Trust and further its aims that was the most persuasive voice. Now the hard work will have to be carried forward with even greater intensity. However, with the growing number of people who have expressed a wish to become involved and to work with us and for us, I'm sure that we can carry Exeter City forward to new horizons.