Exeter City manager Matt Taylor says there will be new additions at St James Park in the near future as he prepares his squad and backroom staff for the upcoming 2018/19 season.
Speaking on Fixtures Release Day, where it was revealed that the Grecians will take on Carlisle United at home on the opening day of the season, Matt says he has been in constant conversation about bringing new players and staff into the club.
He said: “There will be bodies coming in. I’m in constant conversation with players who are top of my list in terms of targets. If they don’t come through the door then we will look elsewhere but what I will say is that Jordan Moore-Taylor leaving the club frees up more of a budget, meaning players that I couldn’t offer contracts to now come back into the picture in terms of contracts, so it will be an interesting period.
“I’m in conversations with agents, other managers, and staff but it’s very close to all coming together. The next 10 days or two weeks should see some movement.”
Following their opening day match with Carlisle United, City then face matches with Morecambe (A), Newport County (H), Cambridge United (A) and MK Dons (A), three of which will be played away from home.
On the opening match of the season, Matt said: “It’s going to be a big game for everyone involved. It’s always important to have a good start like we did last year, and it will give us a good indication about how we have worked in pre-season. It’s important that we get off to a good start and Carlisle at home is a good fixture for us.
“Travelling is part and parcel of League Two football, any away game is going to be difficult. We have to be good on the road, but our home form is going to be key- it will be important for the club moving forward. It was excellent last season and hopefully we can repeat that this year.”
With a number of new faces at St James Park coming into the club, Matt explains how it is important not to look too far ahead at the fixtures and the new City boss will have his sights firmly set on Carlisle on the first day of the season.
He continued: “All pre-season will be geared towards that first game. Get that game out the way and then it’s about the following Tuesday and the following Saturday, the games come thick and fast.
“We can’t look too far ahead, it’s important we take each game at a time, it’s going to be a new squad with a new set of players and new ideas from the staff. It’s not going to be perfect straight away, certainly not by the first league game of the season. The bodies, the personnel, and the way we play will change throughout the season, but we have to maintain a certain level of standards and hopefully we can pick up points.
Having been appointed at the beginning of June, Matt explained how he is settling into his new role having made the step up from being under-23 coach last season.
He said: “It’s been excellent, I’m really enjoying it. Obviously, it’s busy in terms of getting players and staff in place.
“It’s a fresh start for everyone. Hopefully the supporters are looking forward to the season as we are. They are passionate about the team and we have to put a team on that pitch that perform to a certain level and which reflects the support as well.
“The main thing I will be concentrating on is the football that we play on the pitch and the results and points that we pick up off the back of that.”