Inglethorpe on Stansfield move

The Exeter Express and Echo has reported that former Grecian manager Alex Inglethorpe has delivered striker Adam Stansfield as his parting gift to Exeter City.

Stansfield, who was born at near-by Tiverton, is said to have turned down a deal at Edgar Street in favour of a return to Exeter where he had a trial when he was 19.

"He is a player I would have loved to have worked with," Inglethorpe told Echo Sport.

"His ability is there for all to see. When he returned to the Hereford side towards the end of last season it triggered an upturn in their fortunes and he was the catalyst they needed to go on and finish the season strongly.

"He is a proven goalscorer and his importance was shown by the fact that Hereford started with him in both play-off semi-finals and the final.

"Any combination of him, Lee Phillips and Jamie Mackie will prove very difficult for opposition defences.

"Adam is 27 and in his prime. He is at a great age for a striker and is ready to give his best years to Exeter City. And with Lee at 25 and Jamie at 22 and both getting better all the time, there is a very promising and very exciting set of forwards at the club."

The paper also suggests that any move for another Hereford player, Craig Stanley, is highly unlikely.

The Western Morning News also reported the move. It quoted Julian Tagg, Exeter's sporting director.

"It's an excellent signing," said Tagg

"Adam has a proven track record in this league, he is a local boy returning to the area, which is also important, and what is also important is that, although Alex has gone, he still wants to come here.

"He was looking forward to working with Alex, but it is a measure of how far we have come that someone still believes enough in the club and the advances that it has made, even though there is not a manager in place."

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