Fire break has benefitted Exeter players - Caldwell

Exeter City's last game was a 2-1 loss at Leyton Orient on 15 November - they have not played at home since 8 November

Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell says the enforced break after a fire at St James Park has benefitted his side.

Last Saturday's League One game with Burton Albion had to be postponed after damage to the control room and medical area meant the stadium was unsafe.

But Caldwell says the rest has given him time to work with his side, who are one place above the relegation zone.

"From a physical point of view I think it's been really good timing in terms of preparation for the Christmas period to have a break to freshen the players up, to take away the pressure of a game and have a free week where we could do a number of different things with the players," Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.

"But the biggest thing being physically get them in a better condition to attack the Christmas period.

"So we've trained hard, but we've trained without the pressure of a game, and now because of that break you're really excited and looking forward to getting back to playing."

The fire at St James Park could not have come at a worse time for the Grecians.

The club has had to have a second loan from the Exeter City Supporters' Trust to cover a large overspend last season.

City have had to crowdfund the £100,000 cost to repair the damage to their ground as they await any insurance payment, with fans currently raising around £75,000 - something which has impressed Caldwell.

"It's amazing that aspect of our club, but also the wider football community," he said. "Whenever things like this happen everyone rallies round.

"We worked extremely hard as a club to try to get the game back on and it just wasn't going to happen pretty early in the week.

"When we assessed the damage we knew as a club early in the week, the wires and all the safety procedures that needed to be checked and double-checked before the game, we were never going to have the time to do that.

"I think we acted really responsibly as a club. We contacted the EFL and the game was called off in plenty of time so no one travelled, everyone knew, we never put Burton out, so the right decision I think was made."

Caldwell, whose side travel to Bradford in the league on Saturday and then Luton in the Vertu Trophy on Tuesday before entertaining Wycombe in the FA Cup next weekend, added: "Now we focus back to league games away from home and hopefully a huge turnout when we return to St James Park in the FA Cup."