Transfer income saves Exeter City from huge losses

Exeter City have not won in their last 13 matches [Shutterstock] Exeter City would have made a loss last year of more than £4. 5m had they not received significant transfer income, according to their latest set of accounts. The figures for the period to 30 June 2025 show the club made a profit of just under £350,000.

But since that date the Grecians have had to go to owners the Exeter City Supporters' Trust for loans of £600,000 and made redundancies. It needed £400,000 to meet the club's June payroll and a further £200,000 in November to meet that month's wages. The club sold striker Millenic Alli for a fee understood to be worth £1.

5m to Luton Town in January 2025, while defender Will Aimson also moved to Wigan for an undisclosed fee in July 2024. City also received a sell-on clause for Jay Stansfield, who moved to Birmingham City for a reported £15m in August 2024. The accounts show the club later "received £985,000 from Close Brothers Leasing in connection with the factoring of the future sell-on clause relating to Jay Stansfield".

According to the accounts further budget cuts will be needed for the 2026-27 season - Exeter are outside the League One relegation places on goal difference after a 13-game winless run. "These budgets are in the first instance challenging and rely on the continued financial support of the Supporters' Trust, however, there are significant items of potential contingent income relating to past players that would make this more manageable," the report in the accounts states. "The directors acknowledge that due to the uncertainty of the future contingent income and the reliance on the Supporters Trust, there exists a material uncertainty regarding going concern, however, the preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis is still deemed appropriate.