Exeter City has named defender Jack Fitzwater as club captain for the 2026/27 season, following the departure of long‑serving defender Pierce Sweeney. The 28‑year‑old, who joined the Grecians in September 2023 on a contract that runs until June 2027, will lead a squad that has been reshaped after the club’s relegation to League Two.

Fitzwater told BBC Radio Devon that the role is a significant responsibility. “Being captain of a football club is massive, it’s a massive part of my life now and I’m really going to look forward to leading the group,” he said. The appointment comes as the club prepares to start the new season under manager Matt Taylor.

The change follows the exit of Sweeney, who left Exeter earlier this summer after four years as a regular in the back line. Fitzwater’s promotion to captain is part of a broader reset that the club is implementing after a difficult 12‑month period marked by financial constraints and a drop from League One to League Two.

According to club statements, Exeter was forced to seek a £600,000 loan from the Exeter City Supporters' Trust after an overspend during the 2024‑25 season. The Trust, which holds 53.6% of the club’s voting shares, has provided more than £1.75 million to the club over its history. The loan is intended to help the club stabilize its finances.

The club’s relegation in May ended four years in the third tier. The Grecians have had to sell several key players and rebuild their squad. Fitzwater said the club has undergone a “big turnaround off the pitch” and that the reset is “really a big reset.” He added that the club’s players and staff are fully committed to the new direction.

Fitzwater also highlighted the role of youth development in the new era. “We know it’s going to be tough this year, it’s going to be different, there’s going to be a lot of expectation on a lot of players and there’s a number of young players going to be in and around our group this year, who we’re going to have to help nurture,” he said. The vice‑captain, Jake Doyle‑Hayes, will support him in this task.

The Grecians’ first competitive fixture of the season will be a Devon derby in the Carabao Cup. The match is scheduled for Monday, 10 August, at Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park. Fitzwater described the fixture as “an amazing fixture to look forward to” and said it would be “one to really get your teeth into.”

Exeter’s record against Plymouth in recent years includes a 2‑0 home win in October last season and a 2‑2 draw at Home Park in April. The derby is a high‑profile encounter that will test the new captain and the squad’s readiness for the challenges ahead.

The club’s leadership has emphasized the importance of a strong start. “If the boys don’t, I’ll be sure to make sure they do,” Fitzwater said. “We’ve got to go there ready, we know what it’s going to be like, it’s going to be ferocious, it’s going to be 100 miles an hour and it’s one we’re really, really looking forward to.”

With the new captain in place and a squad that has been reshaped by financial realities, Exeter City will focus on the upcoming Carabao Cup match and the remainder of the League Two campaign. The club’s future will depend on how quickly the team adapts to the new leadership, how the youth players develop, and whether the financial reset can sustain the club’s ambitions in the fourth tier.