EFL club re-hire former manager who left them for Championship job

Exeter have announced the return of Matt Taylor as interim manager, four years after he first left the club.

The 44-year-old has been placed in charge of the Grecians until end of the season, after Gary Caldwell left the club to join Wigan in February.

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When was Matt Taylor last in charge of Exeter?

Taylor previously spent more than four years in the hot seat at St James’ Park between 2018 and 2022.

In his final season there, he guided the club to promotion from League Two by finishing as runners-up.

Months later, the former Exeter captain left to join then Championship side Rotherham.

Taylor was sacked by the Millers after 13 months, before being hired by Bristol Rovers, where he spent a year.

With the Exeter role marking Taylor’s return to management, his first game back in the dugout comes in Tuesday night’s home clash with Burton Albion.

He takes over from Dan Green, who had served as interim boss following Caldwell’s departure.

The Devon outfit are currently 15th in League One, five points off the bottom four relegation places.

‘Extremely pleased’

On his return, Taylor told the club: “I’m extremely pleased to return to Exeter City.

“This club and its supporters have always held a special place in my heart, and it is somewhere where I spent 10 amazing years, first as a player and then as manager.

“The supporters are like no other, and I’m looking forward to getting to know our players and staff and leading the team as we step out onto the pitch at St James’ Park tonight for the match against Burton Albion.”

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Exeter’s interim board chair Laurence Overend also welcomed Taylor’s return to the south west.

Overend said: “We are delighted to welcome Matt back to the Club.

“He is someone who knows Exeter City exceptionally well and understands the club’s culture, values and ambitions, as well as the realities of the league and our model.

“Matt worked closely with Dan and Kevin Nicholson during his previous stint as manager and it was felt by the club board that as well as bringing experience and expertise, his appointment will minimise the amount of upheaval and change for the squad, giving the players the confidence to finish the season positively.”

Not only is Taylor heading back to a club where he made his name as a manager, he also enjoyed a fruitful spell there as a player.

After spells with various non league clubs, he joined Exeter in 2007 and went on to make 160 appearances for the club, before leaving to join Charlton in 2011.

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Taylor’s return to the Grecians will no doubt prove popular among fans, having never finished outside of the top half in his four seasons as manager.