Birmingham City, Swansea City should thank Exeter City man after transfer reveal: View | OneFootball

Agent Pierce Sweeney has revealed his role in Jay Stansfield, Ollie Watkins and Josh Key's moves away from Exeter City.

Pierce Sweeney isn’t exactly a journeyman, but he has made a notable move in his career.

The Irishman, who turned 30 earlier this month, is in his ninth season at St James Park – but it could have been all so different for the popular centre back.

Sweeney announced that he would be leaving City on a free transfer in the summer of 2021 after rejecting a fresh contract.

On June 11th it was confirmed that he was joining Swindon Town on July 1st, only to leave one day after walking through the door, citing personal reasons as the club went through financial issues that saw wages going unpaid.

Seven days later the club captain returned to Exeter and he’s not looked back, being a key part of both Matt Taylor and now Gary Caldwell’s squad.

He’s living proof that the grass isn’t always greener, but that’s not the case for everyone.

Sweens has evolved into a leader at the club and someone the younger players look up to for advice on a range of things, especially transfers and their own career paths.

Sweeney played part in Stansfield Birmingham move

Speaking recently, he revealed that three of the Grecian golden boys have reached out to him over the years to gauge his opinion on potential transfers, including Ollie Watkins, Jay Stansfield and Josh Key.

Stansfield made a very high profile move from Fulham to Birmingham City this summer in a deal that could be worth up to £20m with the potential of £4m heading to City via sell ons.

The forward spent last season on loan at St Andrew’s and built a strong rapport with Blues as they were relegated, finishing their top scorer and cleaning up at the Midlands club’s awards night.

The decision to drop from a Premier League side to a League One club was a big one, and one that Stanno sought City’s captain’s view on.

"I am never going to sugar coat a situation," he revealed. "I didn’t do that with Stanno, he has obviously signed a lucrative contract there for seven years, so I am not surprised that he’s decided to go on that bandwagon with Birmingham.

"They are obviously a fantastic football club in their own right, but what they are doing there is brilliant and they are getting good backing.

"I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago before he signed," he continued. "I don't know why he was looking for my advice - but I just said to him you either go with your heart or you go with your head and stay as a Premier League footballer for as long as you can.

"He's obviously gone with his heart and he's gone with the project at Birmingham and fair play to him, he's cemented his future."

Stansfield is clearly an emotional character and it’s no surprise given everything that’s happened to him throughout his young life, but he’s obviously got his head screwed on as well.

Fulham boss Marco Silva said the 22-year-old England youth international was going to be around his first-team squad in the top flight this season, so to drop two divisions was a big call that needed a lot of thought.

Sweeney’s advice looks spot on and it seems Stanno has indeed followed his heart. He’s on a big contract and is now a very rich guy playing somewhere he enjoys in front of a fanbase who adore him.

Sweeney also advised Watkins and Key

Sweeney also opened up on Watkins’ uncertainty about leaving Exeter City to join Brentford in 2017 and that Josh Key sought his council before joining Swansea City last summer.

"It’s not the first time a player has called me and I am still waiting for a cheque off Josh Key! Stanno will have one in the post as well! I remember Ollie Watkins asked me when I was 22 or 23 what he thought about me going to Brentford and I said to him I would drive him there myself!" Sweeney wrote in his DevonLive column.

"He was debating whether to go or not, but listen, if players see me in that light then brilliant. I am obviously doing something right and I must talk a good game!"

A career in player representation clearly beckons for Agent Sweens when he hangs up his boots but, for now, he’s focused on his career and staying at Exeter for the rest of it.

Sweeney has had both sides of the coin, a move from Reading to Exeter which has eventually stood the test of time and that one to Swindon which barely saw the ink dry on the contract before it was ripped up.

City are unusual in that they want, or have, to sell their best players.

While Sweeney has only really represented one club on the pitch throughout his career he’s had a big impact on four, and Birmingham, Brentford and Swansea fans should all join Exeter in singing his praises and being thankful for the Irishman’s sage advice as all three deals mentioned have worked out pretty well for all involved.