Robbie Willmott: hails Exeter move after Newport struggles

The 30-year-old, whose contract expires this summer, will spent the rest of the season on loan with the Grecians with the aim of either earning a permanent move or putting himself in the shop window for next season.

Willmott has made an immediate impression for County's promotion rivals with an assist against Bradford and then a goal in Tuesday's 3-2 win against Colchester.

That was his first strike since scoring for Newport in their win at Yeovil in March 2019.

The midfielder made over 200 appearances over two spells with Newport but endured a frustrating first half of 2020/21.

After being a fringe figure with County, Willmott is hoping to be a leading figure for one of their rivals at the top.

Robbie Willmott of Newport County is tackled by Lewis Hardcastle of Barrow.

"It's been tough to move, but I felt I needed to do it as out of contract in the summer and wasn't playing at Newport," he said.

"I felt it was important for my future to go out and express myself and get as much interest for the summer as I'm out of contract.

"I had to sit down with my partner and think about it and I had a couple of offers the day before deadline day that weren't right location-wise.

"I turned a club down in the morning and was expecting to stay and then Exeter came in, and then I jumped at the chance, and I felt like I needed it to freshen things up and felt I needed to go somewhere again to find myself.

"I'm 30 and I want to be playing and contributing towards promotion and I wasn't doing that for different reasons at Newport, so I felt I needed a change and my confidence levels were low.

"But this has given me a new lease of life. I didn't want the season to fall apart and not play and I wanted to contribute to a season and Exeter gave me the chance and I want to carry that on for the end of the season."

Robbie Willmott in action for County on 2013

Willmott helped County return to the Football League in 2015 and featured in the famous FA Cup wins against Leeds, Leicester and Middlesbrough, the draw against Tottenham Hotspur and clash with Manchester City.

He played 28 times for Michael Flynn's side this season but feels he ended up being a victim of his own versatility.

"It was tough at times at Newport, I played out of position a lot, but I was willing to do that, so I was playing in defensive roles," said Willmott, who was ineligible for Exeter's trip to Rodney Parade when they were denied a win at the death despite after being reduced to nine men.

"People look at me as a winger and say 'he hasn't scored in however many games', but unfortunately I was either playing in defensive midfield or as a wing-back or as a right-back or left-back, so it was hard to score.

"When I was given the opportunities to play wide I think I got a fair few assists for Newport, and I'm out of contract in the summer so I need to get as much interest as possible but I also want to do as well as I can for Exeter.

"I want to repay the gaffer for taking a chance on me the day before deadline day and help the team get as far up the table as possible.

"If something came about and was on the table, I would really consider it, so it is up to me to do enough so Exeter are interested in for me for the summer."

The seventh-placed Grecians travel to Crawley this weekend.

Saturday fixtures: Crawley v Exeter, Bolton v Barrow, Carlisle v Oldham, Harrogate v Grimsby, Leyton Orient v Tranmere, Mansfield v Morecambe, Newport v Stevenage, Port Vale v Cambridge, Scunthorpe v Cheltenham, Southend v Salford, Walsall v Bradford, Forest Green v Colchester.