2026 Laurence Overend
Biographical Text
Laurence Overend, a solicitor with experience in Barnstaple and Exeter, was appointed interim chair of Exeter City in February 2026 following the resignation of Richard Pym. He had earlier chaired the supporters' trust.
Having returned to the club board at time of Mr Pym's reappointment in November 2025, Mr Overend had previously served as chair of the Exeter City Supporters Trust between 2012 and 2016. At the time of assuming the position of club chair he had thirty years experience of working as a solicitor alongside membership of the Trust board between 2011 and 2017 and the club board between 2012 and 2017.
Stepping into his new role early in 2026 he became the club's fourth chair in less than a year following Nick Hawker, Clive Harrison and Richard Pym. Although the first-team was enjoying relatively good fortunes in its fourth season in League One, off-the-field matters had come to the fore during the previous summer with the departure of chief executive Joe Gorman and reports of a financial overspend. With Mr Overend's predecessor managing to bring forward outstanding payments on outward transfers - and also starting to introduce a shares rights issue which would increase the Trust's shareholding and bring about possible external investment - Mr Overend nonetheless faced a challenging situation after his predecessor had warned of a significant cut to the playing budget in 2026/27.
Holding the fort in the wake of manager Gary Caldwell's departure, and attempting to allay the mounting fears of many supporters, Mr Overend stepped aside after a few months to be replaced by Wilf Walsh whilst remaining on the board.
Stepping into his new role early in 2026 he became the club's fourth chair in less than a year following Nick Hawker, Clive Harrison and Richard Pym. Although the first-team was enjoying relatively good fortunes in its fourth season in League One, off-the-field matters had come to the fore during the previous summer with the departure of chief executive Joe Gorman and reports of a financial overspend. With Mr Overend's predecessor managing to bring forward outstanding payments on outward transfers - and also starting to introduce a shares rights issue which would increase the Trust's shareholding and bring about possible external investment - Mr Overend nonetheless faced a challenging situation after his predecessor had warned of a significant cut to the playing budget in 2026/27.
Holding the fort in the wake of manager Gary Caldwell's departure, and attempting to allay the mounting fears of many supporters, Mr Overend stepped aside after a few months to be replaced by Wilf Walsh whilst remaining on the board.
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