Alex Inglethorpe, chiefly known as a Leyton Orient player but with a spell at St James’ Park too, became Exeter City’s second manager in the supporter-owned era when he replaced Eamonn Dolan in October 2004. Best-remembered as City’s manager at the time of the 2005 FA Cup games against Manchester United, he left the Grecians in 2006 to follow a similar career path to his predecessor within the academies of larger clubs.

An attacking midfielder or striker, he made a dozen league appearances for Watford before moving to Leyton Orient in 1995 where he scored 32 times in 123 league outings. Subsequently signing for Exeter City in 2000, he made nineteen league appearances before his Football League career drew to a halt. He then returned to the area where he had grown up to become player-manager of Leatherhead. 

Back at Brisbane Road as Leyton Orient’s under-19 coach in January 2004, he emerged as successor to Eamonn Dolan as Exeter City’s manager in October 2004 following the incumbent’s departure for a job in Reading’s academy. Inheriting a team that had finished 6th in the club’s first season in the Conference in 2003/04, City soon overcame Braintree, Grimsby and Doncaster to set-up a FA Cup 3rd round tie at Manchester United in January 2005. Drawing 0-0 at Old Trafford, before succumbing 2-0 in the home replay, the games not only became a memorable episode in the club’s history but also provided the supporters trust (in control only since 2003) with the financial wherewithal to take its plans forward.

Quietly returning to the league, City again finished 6th in 2004/05 followed by 7th in 2005/06 at a time when 5th place meant qualification for the play-off. 

At which point, in June 2006 with not quite two complete seasons at the helm, Alex followed in the footsteps of Eamonn Dolan by accepting an offer of an academy role with a larger club. In this case it was Tottenham Hotspur where he worked until moving to Liverpool in 2012 where he was briefly in charge of the under-21s followed by a lengthy period as academy director.    

His departure from St James' Park heralded a period of remarkable managerial stability with his successor Paul Tisdale remaining in post for twelve years followed by four years of Matt Taylor.