Boss gives reaction to Sercombe exit
Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale admitted that he would be sorry to see Liam Sercombe depart the club this summer, but wished the midfielder the best of luck for his future away from St James Park.Paul revealed in his programme notes that Sercombe had opted to depart Exeter City for pastures new in time for 2015/16, following the expiration of his contract.
Sercombe, Exeter born and bred, came through the Academy ranks as a youngster and went on to feature throughout the Paul Tisdale era at Exeter City. Regrettably illness kept him unavailable for a home send-off against Dagenham & Redbridge.
But Tis hoped that the 25-year-old would go on to flourish in his career and admitted that the door could well be open for Sercombe to add to his 263 senior appearances for Exeter in the future, should he ever wish to return.
“Liam is the last player at the club from when I arrived in 2006,” Paul said. “He has given eight or nine years of terrific service; he has played well over 250 games, and there comes a point where everyone is entitled and has earned the right to move on and try something else.
“We would have loved to have kept him, but he is entitled to do that and he has given so much effort and had so many good games and scored so many good goals, and there comes a moment when you have to part company.
“We really hope he does well. I’m sure one day there will be an opportunity for him to come back should he wish and we wish him the very best of luck.
“He wasn’t available today ironically but I am sure he would have received some terrific applause from the supporters.
“There’ll be other players that move on this summer to make way for new signings or to go on and do other things – it’s not all decided yet. With Liam, he will be fondly thought of going forward here and you never know, there might be a door for him to come back in one day.
“It is a sad day for us, but one to be applauded for him and the club to have a player that has come through the ranks and played so many games. That takes some doing.
“It’s really sad to see him go because he’s the last player from the initial squad that I inherited back in 2006 and I thank him for his work, and we move on.
“Football clubs are transitory places – they move and players come and go, but Liam has been a permanent fixture here. It makes it difficult for me to see him go, but that’s football.
“We thank him – we’re sorry that he’s not staying, but we wish him the best of luck.”