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Breaking News: Exeter City Manager Gary Caldwell Confirms Star Player Leaving Club
A product of Exeter City Academy It has been confirmed that Alex Hartridge will depart the team in the summer when his contract ends. The 25-year-old has declined St. James Park’s offer of a new contract.
The defender was given the captain’s armband during the Grecians’ 1-0 victory over Stevenage on Saturday, which extended their winning streak to six games and put them in the top half of League One.
Hartridge’s final outing in the red and white is probably coming to an end. In November 2017, Hartridge made his 18-year-old debut for Exeter. He has now made 153 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals, and playing a significant role in the League Two promotion push.
Manager Gary Caldwell announced following the win that Hartridge, who hadn’t played for the team since Easter Monday and hadn’t appeared for almost two months, would be leaving at the end of the campaign.
Despite there being four games left, he felt that being named captain was a goodbye present because it marked the end of Ben Purrington’s concussion absence and the serving of Zak Jules’ suspension.
We’ve extended contracts to him, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he is departing for the upcoming season,” Caldwell remarked. “He has been an excellent servant.”He had long since hinted that he will finish his contract, and we feel completely at ease with that.
We understand when academy products wish to “flee the nest,” so to speak, and pursue their careers wherever they may lead them. He has been an incredible servant for the club and has lived here for the majority of their lives.
To avoid ending on a bad note by not playing, we promised to offer him something. He is so good that even though he had to be ready, he was on Monday.
We thought it appropriate to play a game at SJP—possibly his final game there—and to wear the armband, which I believe was a nice way to express our feelings about him as a person.
We thought he deserved to be captain for this game because he returned to the team and displayed professionalism. We wish him well, and he will depart in the summer.
Given his accomplishments, he is always welcome to return to the club. However, we will try to start individuals who can develop into regulars for the upcoming four games.
The game-winning goal came from on-field player Reece Cole in the 37th minute, his seventh of the year. When Sonny Cox rushed down Stevenage goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond’s clearing, it broke to Cole, who finished coolly. The midfielder then scored into an empty net.
