\n<\/p>\n
Exeter have seen a host of internationals and seasoned players leave the club over the past 18 months.<\/p>\n
Jack Nowell, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Stuart Hogg, Dave Ewers and the Simmonds brothers are amongst the names that have either moved to different teams – mainly in France – or retired. <\/p>\n
It saw a new-look young side impress many people last season as players such as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Greg Fisilau and Jenkins took on greater roles in the side. <\/p>\n
Those young players – with experienced help from Henry Slade, Scott Sio and Jack Yeandle – exceeded expectations in 2023-24 with a seventh-placed finish and hopes of making the top four until the final day of the season. <\/p>\n
Baxter says the club has had to curb its spending as it works its way out of the financial problems caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which is now having a ripple effect on the team this season. <\/p>\n
“We’ve spent a little more this year than last year, but we’re miles off the salary cap,” he said.<\/p>\n
“We said coming out of Covid, ‘we’re a member’s club, we have to run as a profit-making business’.<\/p>\n
“We can’t just run forever as a loss-making business because that’s illegal, our accountants can’t say we’re a going concern, we have to make those decisions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n