Schumacher

It will probably will also mean they are no longer relegation certainties?

Is it? Plenty of clubs do it.

Assuming he's got an agent working for him then they've probably already contacted us and asked if we're likely to be looking for a new manager in the near future, as I'd imagine we're likely to beat anything Burton can offer?

Although surprised he's prepared to consider Burton as if he can't turn things around then it'll hardly look good on his CV to be sacked, then relegated and, probably, sacked again.

Exeter stuck by Gary Caldwell last season despite a poor campaign and crap football, and now are seemingly reaping the benefits. Food for thought.

I don’t know much about Exeter but perhaps there were very clear and positive signs that their manager was moving them in the right direction? With MT there hasn’t been any consistency in formation, tactics, selection or style of play. Even when there have been wins these haven’t been great performances and a lot of the underlying issues with style, tactics etc have just been masked by the 3 points. 

At least this is Rovers, even football, related not something totally off topic?

I'm not sure getting hammered 7 - 0(?) can have been very positive at the time? Under JB in L2 there were no clear signs we were progressing before things clicked into place for him.

The performance v Cambridge and for 60 mins v Charlton were good, as was the second half at Burton, and we tore Reading apart for the last 15 or so minutes even if we did lose.

CM's return to fitness could be make or break for MT.

Oh look - another cunningly disguised "let's sack MT thread"!

It is frequently stated by certain posters that The Grecians are a model club where everything is rosy.

Some posters praise their fan ownership approach and suggest this is an ideal  way forward for Bristol Rovers. 

They have earned huge sums over the last decade from player sales. 

If this "gravy train" is not regularly boosted their club faces financial issues of a pressing nature. 

Their best business was the sale of Ollie Watkins. 

It is estimated that roughly £6million has been the income derived from his transfer to date. 

Exeter City earned £1.8m when they sold Watkins to Brentford in the summer of 2017.

With a 15 percent sell-on clause, when he moved to Villa in the summer of 2020 for £28m, that entitled City to pick up a further £3.3m. 

Various add-ons have the potential to bring in extra income. 

For example,  the Grecians secured an extra £75,000 after the Aston Villa man made his England debut off the bench in the 5-0 win over San Marino.

This stream of income is now dwindling.  

Exeter City have used the income wisely on upgrading their stadium and improving their training ground in the last five years. 

Things are not quite so wonderful at the present time as some believe. 

Their much heralded academy structure is not producing the winning sides with quality players it once did. 

How are their Under 18 Academy side doing this season? By their usual standards, they are most disappointing. 

The nature of the Exeter City ownership structure means it is essential for them to make transfer profits consistently. 

The Ollie Watkins stream has been bringing in £1million per year,  on average for six years.  Brilliant business. 

Well done to them over the last decade. 

Without some big transfer sales it is highly likely that the next decade may not indicate that they are the ideal club for us to replicate.