Edwards tipping Tisdale for a lengthy stay at St James' Park
Rob Edwards has backed Paul Tisdale to be Exeter City's manager "for some time yet" as speculation that he could be going to Swindon Town came to an end yesterday.
Edwards was asked to stand in for Tisdale at his weekly press conference ahead of tomorrow's npower League Two game with Northampton Town and, with the Robins having stated that they were speaking to prospective new managers yesterday, it merely added fuel to the speculative fire that Tisdale was about to leave St James' Park.
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Rob Edwards
However, the City boss – along with the XI that started Tuesday's fantastic 2-0 win at Port Vale – were all given the day off in readiness for the home clash with the Cobblers.
"I don't think so. I think Paul Tisdale will be the manager of Exeter for a lot longer yet," Edwards said. Asked if the speculation had affected the players this week, City's first-team coach added: "Not at all.
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"I would have thought the players have heard it, like we all have, but it is purely speculation. It is how football is at the moment, a lot of people talk.
"I think the players are looking forward to playing games, they were totally concentrated on the game on Tuesday and they are looking forward to the game on Saturday."
Tisdale has been in charge of Exeter since the summer of 2006 and, with John Still leaving Dagenham and Redbridge this week to take over at Luton Town, it makes Tisdale the longest serving manager in the Football League.
He is fifth in English football's list of longest-serving managers with only the Premier League's Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United, 26 years, 114 days), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal, 16 years 150 days) Everton boss David Moyes (ten years 351 days) and Stoke City's Tony Pulis (six years 259 days) ahead of him.
In that time, Tisdale, who has been at the helm for six years and 247 days, has taken Exeter to Wembley twice in play-off CORRECT finals and enjoyed two promotions. Although Exeter were relegated from League One at the end of last season, they are well placed for an immediate return and Edwards feels the club has benefited from such stability.
"I think other businesses and other sports look at football and think it is crazy how often a team changes their manager, but I think that's how the modern game is," Edwards added. "I think Exeter City have thrived on continuity and having a manager for a long time, who can stick to the plan. The club has a plan and wants to move forward and has someone very forward thinking in Paul, and I think that has to be the way forward."
The fact Tisdale was absent yesterday was purely coincidental, and last night Swindon hired Kevin MacDonald, the former Leicester City and Aston Villa assistant manager, as the replacement for the controversial Paolo di Canio at the County Ground.
"The first-team players were not in this morning, but they had things to do at home like go to the gym," Edwards said. "Obviously, it was a long trip to Port Vale and they are resting up with one or two bumps and bruises, but the other lads around the squad and who were on the bench have trained and are in great spirits."
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