Taylor named permanent Exeter boss for second time

Matt Taylor led Exeter City to just one victory during his time as interim manager this season

Newly-relegated Exeter City have appointed Matt Taylor as their permanent new manager.

The 44-year-old has been in interim charge at St James Park since March after Gary Caldwell left to take over at Wigan Athletic.

It will be Taylor's second spell in charge, having succeeded long-serving boss Paul Tisdale in June 2018.

Taylor led Exeter to promotion from League Two in 2022 before leaving to take over at Rotherham United.

He has since taken charge at Bristol Rovers before returning to replace Caldwell earlier this year.

Taylor could not keep the Grecians in League One this season as they suffered relegation on the final day.

Exeter say the club considered numerous candidates before appointing Taylor.

He will work alongside the current coaching team - including assistant manager Kevin Nicholson and Dan Green, who has also been promoted to assistant.

"Coming back to Exeter reminded me just how special this club is," Taylor said.

"There's work to do, on and off the pitch, as the whole club goes through something of a reset and I'm excited to be part of this.

"We know we will need to rely on the young players, ideally through the academy system and this is one area where I have a great deal of experience."

Club chairman Wilf Walsh said Taylor's knowledge of Exeter's supporter-owned model and academy was key to his appointment.

"He understands every aspect of the club," Walsh added.

"He knows how to get promoted out of League Two and he is absolutely committed to the academy and the model of developing young players which has been so successful for us in recent years."

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A former Exeter City captain, Taylor helped them win back-to-back promotions on the field from what is now the National League to League One between 2008 and 2009 - scoring 20 goals in 162 appearances between 2007 and 2011.

He left to join Charlton Athletic in 2011 before going on to play for clubs including Bradford and Cheltenham.

Taylor returned to Exeter as an academy coach and was under-23s boss when he succeeded Tisdale.

He went on to lead the Grecians to a fifth-placed finish in his second season but they were beaten in the 2020 League Two play-off final by Northampton Town.

Two years later, he led Exeter to promotion after finishing second in League Two as they missed out on the title on goal difference to Forest Green Rovers.

He takes over an Exeter City side facing financial cuts this summer after losses last season.

A number of experienced players, such as Ilmari Niskanen and Josh Magennis, have left at the end of their contracts this month as Taylor warned of "drastic" squad cuts.

"I'm grateful to the supporters for their backing," added Taylor.