Perryman made a club-record 854 appearances for Tottenham

Exeter City director of football Steve Perryman has said he is confident manager Paul Tisdale will keep the Grecians safe from relegation.

Defeat by Stockport at St James Park last Saturday saw Exeter drop into the bottom four of League One.

Perryman told BBC Devon: "I've got absolutely full confidence in the manager for the way he conducts himself and the way he does his job.

"People show their mettle in a struggle and he's certainly shown me that."

After successive promotions, Exeter have found life difficult in the third tier of English football.

Perryman said the experience of League One has shown a different side to Tisdale as a manager.

He said: "I've been more impressed with him in a year of slight struggle than the previous two or three years when we were winning most games.

"We've just got to get our confidence back and get one or two results and then we'll start flying again."

The former Tottenham captain also revealed that Tisdale is a manager who is very much his own man.

"Every manager has got his own style," Perryman said. "Paul is particularly positive, a great communicator who doesn't waste a word, and yet he doesn't always say the obvious thing at the obvious moments.

606: DEBATE Just had a look at our fixtures and I have got to say that our next seven games are all against teams in the bottom half and all winnable EXETER007123

"He doesn't quite do it by the book, which I think makes him a very interesting manager to work with.

"I don't think he's too down by the situation. I think he sees it as a challenge, good people rise to the challenge and he's certainly going to rise to this one."

After Tuesday night's home game with Bristol Rovers was postponed, Exeter now travel to Brighton in League One on Saturday.

The Grecians will now play host to Bristol Rovers on the re-arranged date of 16 March.

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