Exeter manager Gary Caldwell explains he’s saddened by changes made to the FA Cup

Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell explains why he’s been left saddened by changes made to the FA Cup from this season onward.

He expressed his disappointment with the removal of replays, feeling this decision has devalued the competition, which he describes as “really special.”

Caldwell highlighted the financial implications for lower-league clubs, stating that replays, especially against higher division teams, can be crucial for their financial stability.

He mentioned historical examples where Exeter benefited significantly from FA Cup replays, like the 2005 match against Manchester United and the 2016 game with Liverpool, which helped with the club’s financial issues.

Caldwell criticised the choice to prioritise other competitions like the Champions League, suggesting alternatives could have been explored to maintain the importance of replays for smaller clubs.

The Grecians will come up against his former club Chesterfield in the second round on Saturday.

“I think it’s a competition that’s been devalued a little bit in recent years because of Champions League and football looking at it as a lesser competition,” he said to BBC Radio Devon.

“Taking the replays out, I think, is a huge mistake and a massive blow for lower league clubs.

“But it’s still a really special competition that I take very seriously, and hopefully we get a run where we can face some of the bigger clubs, Premier League clubs, whether that’s at St James Park or away, that would be a really special occasion.”

Exeter’s existence as a football club is in part due to a third round replay.

In 2005, the Grecians faced debts amounting to approximately £5 million due to financial difficulties, yet they were matched against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

They managed to hold them to a 0-0 draw, before ultimately losing in a televised replay at a full St James Park.

The income that was generated from these matches significantly contributed to alleviating their financial burdens.

Then in 2016, Exeter held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw in the third round, subsequently making a trip to Anfield for a replay, where they again benefited from substantial gate receipts and television revenue.

“You’ve seen over the years the drawn games that give that lucrative tie away from home,” Caldwell added.

“It actually saved some football clubs in terms of the financing it provides, so I don’t agree with it.

“I think there could have been space made elsewhere, I don’t agree with Premier League clubs playing all over the world and creating more money for the clubs that have the most money.

“I still believe in England they have a brilliant football pyramid that should be protected and looked after and this is one of those decisions that hasn’t done that.”

Exeter City Supporters’ Trust chairman Nick Hawker said when the changes were announced, per BBC Sport: “Those FA Cup replays can generate huge amounts of money for clubs that are really struggling, and there’s never been a time when clubs haven’t been struggling more than they are today.

“We know from ourselves a game against Manchester United almost certainly saved the club.”

On that Man Utd replay:</strong> “That was the start of it. That was the moment when you can start to believe that you can recover and you can start to plan and have aspirations.

“Before that, it was just real worry about whether we would survive at all.

“That Manchester United game gave us the impetus to say, ‘OK, we can do this now because we don’t have that [situation with] the creditors.’

“Where we are today, it’s a direct outcome of that game.”

“The FA Cup is our biggest asset,” said FA chief executive Mark Bullingham.

“This new agreement between the FA and the Premier League strengthens the FA Cup and gives this very special tournament exclusive weekends in an increasingly busy calendar.”

Hawker says plans to bring in an independent regulator for football, which are currently going through Parliament, could be the best way.

He said: “I think if ever you needed a reason for having one this is probably it. This stretches beyond finances, this talks to our heritage as well.

“I would urge all clubs and all MPs across the country to get on the FA’s back a little bit and say, ‘Come on, this isn’t on, you can’t unilaterally do this.’

“It’s damaging our heritage, it’s damaging the way I think that people will perceive the FA Cup, and goodness knows it’s kind of dropped in value over the years anyway because of the top teams bringing their reserves down.

“Every football supporter should be writing to their MP, and every MP should be turning up at the independent regulator bill and saying clearly this needs to be fixed.”