The Exeter City defender speaks on what he learnt from Gary Caldwell - as well as facing the Premier League giants
12:55, 20 Feb 2026
Ed Turns of Exeter City during the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and Wycombe Wanderers at St James Park, Devon on 17 February 2026. Photo: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK
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Ed Turns of Exeter City during the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and Wycombe Wanderers at St James Park, Devon on 17 February 2026. Photo: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK(Image: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK)
Gary Caldwell may no longer be the manager in charge of Exeter City. But the impact that the former boss will have on the squad will last a long time.
For defender Ed Turns, Caldwell was more than just the man who brought him to St James Park. Having the chance to learn the secrets of the trade from a man who played at the highest level, he said it has helped transform his game for the better.
"He was the manager that brought me in, so I'll always be grateful for that," Turns said. "And as a manager, I thought was very good. Obviously, he knows a lot about the game and as a centre-half as well and he’s played to a really high level in in terms of quality of a centre half and better than me, at least for now
"I think I learned a lot. We didn’t agree on some things, but in that way, I did learn a lot more than I thought I would. I’ll be a better player for it. He’s the only manager I’ve had who was a centre-half. There’d be times I’ve been in his office and he’d be showing me little bits and bobs just to make me better because he believed in me.
“What he was good at, he tried to help me and implement into my game a bit. And I think he has done a lot and I think it's more like seasons to come, I’ll think that’s what Gary said and that's what he liked me doing I think this year I've had with him will be really positive for me to come in the coming years.”
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Ed Turns of Exeter City during the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and Wycombe Wanderers at St James Park, Devon on 17 February 2026. Photo: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK(Image: Frankie OKeeffe/PPAUK)
Turns joined the Grecians last January but his City start got off to a bit of a nightmare when he was sent off on debut in that thrilling 2-2 FA Cup draw with Nottingham Forest. But he recovered and was a virtual ever-present in the side for the rest of last season, and started this season in the back three as well.
However a thigh injury picked up in early December ruled him out for a month and with City in good form, and defensively solid and not conceding many goals, it took him until Jack Fitzwater picked up an ankle injury to be restored to the starting eleven in the league, and only featured at Manchester City in the FA Cup because of Pierce Sweeney’s suspension.
“I’ve missed it. It’s been a while,” he admitted after starting in the 0-0 draw with Northampton Town. “The most important thing I had to do was be ready. Whenever that opportunity came, I had to be ready to take my chance, and I think I did that on Saturday.
“The best thing you can do is not throw your toys out. You get around the lads and just bide your time. Obviously, you want the team to do well, but it makes it hard for you to get back in straight away.
“I've been there before and everyone wants to play and when the boys are winning, you always want to be in the side when the boys are winning, but most importantly, I was more than happy to see the boys win.
“The most important thing is we finish as high as we can in the league as you know you’ll be back in the side as the season's very long, and when the time does come, you have to be ready.”
Turns was part of the City side who conceded ten against Manchester City in the FA Cup – the club record defeat – and it wasn’t a pleasant experience for the Grecians start day who were cut apart by a ruthless and relentless Citizens side who kept going for goals.
The 23-year-old said that the level of Pep Guardiola’s men was way above what they are used to facing week-in, week-out and was ‘next level’ stuff – but it is one that they have learnt from.
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Ed Turns of Exeter City looks dejected after conceding during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Manchester City and Exeter City on 10 January 2026 in Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England. Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK(Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
“So I was up against Semenyo and Haaland and all sorts of their lads in the pockets. That's a different ball game, isn’t it?” Turns said. “They were a joke. Like, the speed of the play and all of that.]
“But that’s kind of the like the next level. You do have to come out of that and learn something as it was a real real bad day. But if you take something from it and you become a better player for him then in the long run, it can be a positive and a good learning experience, and then when you do come up against League One sides, it makes you a better player.”
The Welshman has played all across the back three, and while his versatility can be strength with him able to slot in anywhere, he admitted it can be a weakness as well as it doesn’t allow him to nail down one position to play every single week.
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“It depends who we're playing, how they come up against us, who's playing with me, sort of thing,” he said when asked where he prefers to play. “I enjoyed playing the left there when Danny (Andrew) was fit. I enjoyed playing on the right at the start of the season, but I've played in the middle before, and I think it's different.
“It's different to them, but it's nice. I do enjoy it as well. But it depends on who you're playing. Like if you pick a big boy out front it's you against him sometimes you wouldn't mind being on the right, avoid that a little bit, do you know what I mean?
“But no, I'm comfortable in them all, and, like, I just like to play. I think I can play across all three, which is a strength in for me, but sometimes a weakness, because I don't necessarily have a certain position, but I just like playing, I don't mind where I play.”
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Ed Turns of Exeter City during Exeter City media and training session after the new Exeter City Gary Caldwell leaves for a new role at Wigan. Cliff Hill Training Ground, Devon on 16 February 2026. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK(Image: Phil Mingo/PPAUK)
With Tuesday night fixtures on three of the next four weeks, plus the Tuesday night game just gone in the 1-1 draw with Wycombe Wanderers, it is a hectic period of games for the Grecians as they look to push away from the relegation zone and up the table.
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“I think it is popular, obviously, as sometimes you don't get your days off after the Saturday if you win, but I personally like playing,” Turns said. “It’s a quicker turnaround and you keep your momentum going. We’re in the job to play games. I like playing under the lights at St James Park, we’ve had a few good ones this season and want to get positive results.”