EXETER City manager Gary Caldwell has commended the bravery of striker Josh Magennis and midfielder Caleb Watts, who have both highlighted incidents of late, where they were racially abused.

Magennis was the first to be the victim of racial abuse when he was allegedly insulted by a Bolton Wanderers supporter sat in the away section of the Main Stand at St James Park on January 4. He immediately alerted the referee as to what had happened, who in turn spoke with his fourth official for inclusion in his match report.

The matter was then handed to Devon & Cornwall police, where it is currently being investigated, but there was then a second incident involving Watts on Saturday.

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He is alleged to have received racial abuse on social media, following City’s 1-0 defeat at Birmingham City on Saturday, which led to the club releasing a strongly worded statement that read: “Exeter City FC is appalled by the racist abuse sent to Caleb Watts on social media. The message is clear: racism has no place in our society. The club is working closely with the police and @kickitout, and are offering our support to Caleb.

“We need your support to help eliminate this. If you witness or hear any racist behaviour, please don’t stay silent. Report it immediately at kickitout.org/report or call 020 3967 8989. Together, we can make a difference.”

Caldwell says he cannot fathom why anyone would choose to abuse someone based on the colour of their skin, but both players have been brave in making these unsavoury incidents public knowledge.

“The club put out a statement immediately,” he said. “It was actually my kid that saw it in the car and showed me and I just find it incredible that it still happens in this day and age that people would choose to go on social media or, in Josh’s case, say it at the stadium. To still have to deal with this issue, I find it incredible.

“I think Caleb and Josh are really brave to come out and make it known and let the authorities know. We obviously put the statement out and internally we will deal with that. Hopefully, whoever it is, gets caught and is punished for it because it’s something that just should not be in society in 2025.”

Asked what the answer is, Caldwell added: “It’s not just football, its society and if I knew the answer, then we could fix a lot of problems. I genuinely don’t know what can be done, but that people choose to do that in this day and age - it blows my mind a little bit.

“I don’t know what can be done to fix the problem because it has been here for hundreds and hundreds of years and the quicker we can fix it, the better it will be for everyone.”

Devon and Cornwall Police were contacted for an update on both cases and said: “Regarding the incident surrounding Exeter City footballer Josh Magennis, enquiries are currently ongoing with regards to the investigation.”

As the incident regarding Watts happened outside of the Devon & Cornwall area, then it sits with another constabulary.