Lenny Pidgeley

It was confirmed this week that Exeter had signed ex-Chelsea youth goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley. It has not been an uncontroversial signing. Many (myself included) were really hoping against the odds we would be able to sign up Ben Hamar who performed so fantastically, on loan from reading in the last three months of last season. The chnces of en resigning were slim due to wages and his ambition to play at a higher level which he should be capable of. Of course it had been known to many city fans through Lenny’s twitter account that he had been in talks and things were getting rounded off.

The first major talking point was the fact that he had been caught drink driving and had been photographed being carried out of a club on a night out with his old Chelsea team mates. The response from many Exeter fans was in my view appalling. This is someone who had dedicated his life to playing football and had successfully progressed through the ranks at Chelsea! It does not seem to have occurred to many people that these events happened three years ago and two years ago. While under no circumstances would I condone either behaviour, most of us have at times had a little bit too much to drink and it should be pointed out that he does not appear to have been in any way violent. The drink-driving charge is serious and I understand why people do not want to accommodate that however none of us know the details but it would seem that he was only just over the limit given the report linked above “Pidgeley faces the specific charge of driving a motor vehicle when his alcohol level was above the legal limit” it was also a Sunday conjecture might be that it was more hang-over than willful drink-driving. My point is not to defend him but to point out that we don’t know the details and that this was over two years ago and he has been punished within the law. City staff have decided that he is a fit character for a club which does pride itself on it community/family values and I see no reason not to give the guy our full support going into next season. Furthermore every fans forum that has had people form the respective clubs who have actually met Lenny all have him down as a top bloke and a really nice guy even if they have not been convinced by his performances.

The next point is his attitude and ability. He seems a bit larger than life and does not appear to be afraid to show off a little. I like a goal keeper with a bit of attitude on the pitch and in fact I think it is one of the reasons Hamar was so good. He has a bit of a down turn over the years after leaving Chelsea he played for Millwall, Carlisle and Bradford last season with a few loan stints in between. He is now 27 years old is clearly talented and has picked up some experience. He needs a club to rebuild his career and get himself on the straight and narrow, while we as a club specialise in bringing the best out of players and we have seen in the past that if player’s,  don’t shape up in terms of character then Tisdale will be ruthless in removing them.

The final point up for discussion is that Tisdale has stated that this is Mel Gwinett’s (goalkeeper coach) signing and that credit should go to him. He has also said that Artur is the no.1 chocie for the start of next season. Many seem to see this as Tisdale distancing himself from the signing. However, I don’t see it that way instead I see it as Tisdale giving Mel the chance to pick his man. Afterall it is Mel Gwinett who will be spending the time with Lenny and Artur and he is probably in the best position to know who will fit with their personallity and also be able to bring a lot of support to help develop Artur’s game which although flawed shows great potential in a way I never saw in Paul Jones. Tisdale is in my eyes being careful to give credit where its due and there is absolutely no way Tis would allow a player to sign who he was not confident in.

 My view is that Lenny will make a good addition to our squad although his main contribution may be in helping young Artur Kryziak’s game to develop, which is exactly what Tisdale has alluded too this week in the Express and Echo.