Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale says fans should be looking out for another one of the club’s talented youngsters to break through into the first team rather than any potential new signings.
The statement came just over a week before the start of the new season when the City boss predicted that there would be little movement in or out of the club before the end of the transfer window.
That is despite the fact that Ollie Watkins recently moved from St James Park to Brentford for a club record fee.
“I can’t see anybody else coming in,” said Tis. “We have had a player or two on trial over the summer and those are on-going situations but other than that we are sort of on budget.
“The one point to make on it is that we have had two quite healthy years, which ended with a play-off final at Wembley.
“And those two years came off the back of having a solid squad, with good depth to it, and some very good players.
“We had that capability because we had had some very good business two or three years ago – the sale of Matt Grimes to Swansea and the Liverpool FA Cup match – and that enabled us to have a competitive League Two budget.
“Had we not sold Ollie we would have crashed back to our basic budget which would have put us firmly in the bottom third budget for League Two. What we are able to do now is maintain our budget over the next four years. It is the first time, since I have been here, that we have had that level of health for that length of time.
“However, what it doesn’t mean is we are going to chuck all that money into this season to try and get promoted.
“All we are doing is standing still. So unless things change there will be no more players coming in. The budget has been spent – wisely and appropriately – and the fee we receive for Ollie will get spread over the next four years.”
There have been a few of players on trial with City this summer, including Ryan Brunt and Tyler Harvey. Tis said that he hoped a deal could be done to sign both Ryan and Tyler but added that there are plenty of talented youngsters in the team who deserve an opportunity as well.
“As it stands we will be we are in a week’s time and probably at the end of August as well,” said Tis. “And if we are looking at new players we should be looking at the young players coming through. It is not just about signing new players, it is about developing your own as well and we have got one or two who will have an opportunity now to bounce through and have a game or two.”
Speaking about Ryan and Tyler, Tis added: “Ryan has been injured for quite a long time so we are helping him and he is helping us and if it can work for both of us then we will see. He is a really good age. I like him as an individual. He would bring something to us and a set of circumstances has, I suppose, given us both the opportunity. So I’m optimistic about what can happen.
“Tyler is a Devon boy and we are going to look at him and if we can find an opportunity for him we will as well. So, watch this space, but like I said let’s keep an eye on the young players coming through. They are more likely to pop up than anyone else.”