It was November but Gary Caldwell dipped his toe in the water and could feel the heat.
Exmouth Beach in Devon, just a short drive from his new work place. Maybe it was a sign. Because since taking over at Exeter City, he has felt nothing but warmth. From the board, the fans and the people of the cathedral city. Win, lose or draw – so far – he has been humbled by their affection and kindness.
How many managers can say that? Caldwell isn’t naive though. He has been through it all in the game, as a player and now as a gaffer. Remember, it wasn’t that long ago he and boss Shaun Maloney were brutally axed by Hibs after just five months in charge at Easter Road. But something about Exeter felt right from when he set foot in the place. Or the moment he took a dip in the Cornwall coastline that tumbles into the Atlantic Ocean. In an exclusive interview with MailSport , Caldwell said: “Devon is just stunning. I’ve been to a couple of beaches already and in November, I got in the water. For a Scotsman, it was actually nice and warm. When I was up in Edinburgh, we got up early one morning and went to the beach there.
“We got in the water and it was f***ing freezing! It’s warmer down here. There are loads of beaches to go to. And Exeter itself is a lovely city. It’s a brilliant part of the world. My kids are still at school in Manchester but they’re coming down for the February half-term break so we’ll be going to the beach.
“It’s easy to say this now that I’m in the job but, straight away, there was a connection here. There was alignment in how they see football and how I see it. I remember thinking after the first interview: ‘I’ve got a chance of this.’ That understanding with the people you work for is vital. I know that from my previous experiences. Listen, we all know that if you don’t win matches you won’t be in a job.
“I need to win to stay here for a long time. But there’s genuine support and warmth from the people at the top of the club. They understand it’s not easy. Through hard times, I think they will be there to support me. There’s genuine help and that will be invaluable for me to bring success to Exeter.”
Caldwell is now battle-hardened in management after spells at Wigan Athletic, Chesterfield, Patrick Thistle and as Maloney’s No.2 at Hibs. As a player and coach, he’s lived through exhilarating highs and devastating lows.
He was let go by Newcastle as a kid but went on to play in the Champions League for Celtic. And who will forget his Hampden winner for Scotland against France?
Caldwell was relegated from the Premier League with Wigan but got to lift the FA Cup at Wembley – despite not getting on the pitch. As a gaffer, he was the 2016 LMA Manager of the Year in League One when he led the Latics to a title.
By stark contrast, his exits at Thistle and Hibs were quick and ruthless. So he’s used to pressure. That’s what he craved when he was out of the game. He’s got it back at St James Park – but it’s different. Caldwell said: “Compared to Scotland, this is relaxing. The job is still intense but in a good way. The games down here come with pressure.
“But in terms of the scrutiny, and how you can live your life, it’s a great part of the world to work and a fantastic job to be in.
“When I walk around the town, there’s no aggro or hassle.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the place, the people and the supporters. Because the club is fan-owned there’s a real connection. They feel they ARE the club. Without them, there is no club.
“There’s always pressure in football. That’s what I missed most when I was out of it – there’s a part of you that feels like you’re missing out on something.
“That desire to win a football match is why we’re in the game. So that pressure will be wherever you work. But any coach or manager will tell you it’s a horrible time when you’re out.
“You have to check that your phone still works because it goes very quiet. You’re quickly forgotten about. You learn quickly who your real mates are in the game.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself in those times and about other people. It has made me a better coach and manager. But, genuinely, it’s made me a better person as well.”
Caldwell’s departure from Hibs, with close pal Maloney, was tough to take. It was an unforgiving time at the club where he spent more than two years as a player. In the months that followed, there was plenty of self reflection.
And a social occasion that helped get the experience out of their system.
He said: “At Hibs, that was probably the final piece for me, in terms of being in with someone I respect and trust but seeing it from an assistant’s point of view.
“What I learned has been beneficial. We had three days in Manchester after we left, near where I live. Shaun and a few other staff members came down and we played some golf. We reviewed what we did and tried to improve from it. It was a fantastic day. I know Shaun got a lot from it and so did I. We had a few beers and reminisced.
“It’s important to do things like that. It gives you closure and allows you to look at yourself. It’s another experience you have to live with and make sure you’re better when the next opportunity comes along.”
That’s with the newly-promoted Grecians in a league Caldwell knows well, having led Wigan to the Championship six years ago. There have been ups and downs already, as they sit mid-table.
Competing with huge clubs such as Sheffield Wednesday, Ipswich and Derby County – as well as local rivals Plymouth Argyle – is a tall order.
But after he has been through, nothing will faze the 40-year-old. Caldwell said: “Every experience in my playing or coaching career has shaped me – whether it’s good or bad.
“Once you get through them, you become stronger and more ready for whatever comes next. It can be easy to slip into a dark place.
“But throughout my career the one thing I’ve always done well is bounce back. I’ve had difficult moments but you have to develop resilience and self-belief if you want to survive in this game. Losing your job as a manager is more personal. It feels more brutal than it did as a player. That’s something you have to get over.
“I’m grateful for all the experiences as they’ve brought me to where I am today. And I know I’m better equipped now to do the job than I have ever been before.”
