Exeter City Football Club is set to appoint Wilf Walsh as Board Chair, subject to formal approval, as part of two significant additions to its Board.
 
Wilf and David Lee will join the Board as independent directors following approval by the EFL, further strengthening the Club’s leadership with valuable skills and experience. It is anticipated that Wilf’s appointment as Chair will be approved at the Club’s board meeting on May 7.
 
Over the past nine months, extensive work has been carried out to realign expenditure and stabilise the finances at the Club and these appointments will build on that progress, strengthening the Club for the future.
 
As CEO of Carpetright, Wilf stepped in as the club’s main sponsor for three years in 2020. He later became Chair of Carpetright’s holding group, Nestware, before retiring in 2022. 
 
Wilf was born in Heavitree and grew up in Exeter before moving to the North West. He returned to the region in 2010 and now lives in London and on the Dorset–Devon border. A long-standing Trust member, Wilf and his son Harry are both Exeter City season ticket holders. 
 
After graduating in Law, Wilf built much of his UK and international business career in the betting and gaming industry, primarily with the Coral organisation. He also has extensive experience in sports governance. He is Chair of the Racecourse Association and a board member of the British Horseracing Authority. In addition, he has served as Chair of Cricket Scotland since 2023. 
 
It is a second time on the Club Board for David Lee, who previously served from 2013 to 2020. He brings extensive senior leadership and governance experience to Exeter City, alongside a strong personal connection to the Club. David enjoyed a near 50-year career in construction and infrastructure, including serving as Chief Executive of a major UK division within an international group, overseeing operations with a turnover exceeding £500 million and a workforce of around 2,800.
 
During David’s previous tenure he supported the Club through the challenging COVID-19 period and led on the development of the Adam Stansfield Stand. He also contributed to the project to redevelop the Club’s training ground facilities, which opened in 2023. David is a regular at St James Park and has three season tickets with his family in the Adam Stansfield Stand. He will join the Board as soon as his appointment is approved by the EFL.
 
Laurence Overend, Interim Chair of the Club Board will remain an independent director.
 
Laurence said: “We are delighted to welcome both Wilf and David to the Club Board. They bring a great deal of experience and a pragmatic approach to business. As well as these appointments, we are working alongside the Trust Board to continue to build on the work done over the last nine months to stabilise the Club’s finances and secure a sustainable future for the Club.”