Gary Caldwell, manager of Exeter City, has strongly criticised the decision to keep League One fixtures on schedule during international breaks. Caldwell argues that allowing games to go ahead while players are away on international duty puts some teams at a disadvantage, leading to an inconsistent and less competitive league.
Exeter, who have seen two games postponed due to international call-ups earlier in the season, will play against Lincoln City this Saturday without key players Josh Magennis and Ilmari Niskanen, both of whom are away representing Northern Ireland and Finland, respectively.
Caldwell’s comments underline his frustration with the current rules, which only permit a game to be postponed if a team has three or more players called up for international duty. Lincoln City, Exeter’s opponent this weekend, has a full squad available, while Exeter is forced to compete at less than full strength. This imbalance, Caldwell argues, undermines the quality and fairness of the competition, which he believes should take steps to ensure all teams can play with their best line-ups.
“It’s a joke that the league still goes on,” Caldwell said. “If we call games off for three, why not two, or not at all. League One is full of international players, and most teams get games called off, but it kind of devalues the league when we have to play a game without our two best players.”
Disruptions in League One’s Competitive Structure
Caldwell’s frustrations point to wider issues within League One. With some teams playing fewer games due to call-ups, the league’s competitive structure becomes fragmented, affecting team standings and season continuity. Caldwell emphasised that if the Championship is able to observe international breaks, League One should be able to follow suit. “We should be playing at the same time, and it should be right across the league. If the Championship can do it, so can League One,” he argued. According to Caldwell, the league’s failure to address this leaves teams like Exeter facing undue pressure to perform without their top players.
Furthermore, Caldwell noted that the disparity impacts not just the competition but also the players who miss the chance to contribute to their teams’ success. He highlighted Exeter’s strength in squad depth, expressing confidence in the remaining players to step up in the absence of their international teammates. “We have no problem playing the game, we believe in everyone in the squad, and they have to come in and step up to the mark. We will miss Josh and Immy, but it’s a chance for others to show what they are worth.”
Impact on Teams and League Integrity
As Exeter prepares to face Lincoln without key players, Caldwell underscored the imbalance created when some teams are allowed to field their best line-ups while others are not. For Caldwell, this inconsistency threatens the integrity of League One. “Lincoln will not face what Charlton did today, and to me that’s a joke,” he stated. “It’s either on or off, in my opinion. We want to play the game; we can win without them, but the league needs to look at it.”
Site Opinion
In our view, Caldwell raises a fair point about the need for consistency in League One’s approach to international breaks. Allowing some teams to play with full squads while others miss top players does indeed skew the competition and unfairly impacts teams with more international call-ups. This inconsistency affects not only the teams but also the fans, who expect to see their clubs perform at their best.
Furthermore, League One should consider aligning its scheduling with the Championship. By doing so, the league can ensure a more equitable playing field and uphold the competitive integrity Caldwell is right to defend.
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