Watkins made just three appearances as a result, and in the end, he spent the remainder of the season on loan at National League South club Weston-super-Mare after scoring his first professional goal in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy against Coventry in October 2014.
It turned out to be his turning point. Dean Smith, the Walsall manager at the time, noticed him as he cleaned up the changing room and scored 10 goals in 18 starts.
The Major League Soccer team Charlotte FC’s manager, Smith, recollected: “I really liked what I saw, attitude-wise more than anything.”
However, Exeter was unwilling to let go of its rising talent, so he returned to St James Park and scored nine goals in 22 games.
The engine went on suddenly. Ollie had a quantum shift in his output that I have never seen in a player,” Tisdale remarked.
“We never discussed the procedure, where to get the ball, or how to get it. Any player can be considered good. There’s no need to get into that specific detail. Understanding a player’s psychology and engine is essential for optimizing both.”
