Cherries: Molesley completes Exeter move (From Thisisdorset)

Cherries: Molesley completes Exeter move

12:20pm Friday 18th January 2013 in Latest Sport By Neil Meldrum

MARK Molesley has, in the past few minutes, finalised his move to League Two side Exeter City.

The Cherries midfielder joins the Grecians on a contract until the end of the season having reached an agreement with Cherries to terminate his deal at Dean Court.

Molesley was one of Eddie Howe’s first permanent signings in 2009 having originally signed on loan from Grays Athletic under Jimmy Quinn.

But despite having been a key figure during the club’s dramatic escape from relegation that season, the past three years of Molesley’s time in Dorset have been overshadowed by injury.

The popular Londoner is understood to have impressed boss Paul Tisdale when he lined up for Plymouth against the Grecians in last month’s derby.

As well as the Pilgrims, the 31-year-old had also served Aldershot on loan.

Cherries boss Eddie Howe told the Echo: “Exeter are gaining, first and foremost, someone who is 100 per cent committed to his football.

“He has got this freshness and energy about him which belies his age. He plays and trains like he is a lot younger than his 31 years but he is also a very good player and is, technically, very good.

“He is certainly an attacking threat from midfield and he will score goals, so I think he will do very well for them.”

All-action midfielder Molesley scored five goals in 60 Cherries appearances, 42 of which came in the starting XI.

Howe added: “It is a really difficult one for us. We love Mark to bits both as a person and a player.

“We will always be very fond of him for what he achieved here, especially during our Great Escape season.

“But from his perspective and our perspective, I think it is best, at this moment, if we unfortunately go our separate ways and that Mark starts his career afresh somewhere else.

“He has been really unfortunate with injuries for the past couple of years. He has worked extremely hard to get himself fit - he is now fit - and he did really well at Plymouth.

“But with the bodies we have in midfield, we think it is best now for Mark, especially being out of contract at the end of the season, that he looks to extend his career somewhere else.”