Jevani Brown’s continued struggles are an absolute mystery
They certainly are to Exeter City fans. The Jamaica youth international has hopped around a few clubs in his career, but he appears to be most comfortable and effective at St James Park after leaving Cambridge United, where he began.
He is now on loan at League Two club Notts County from Bristol Rovers and is not exactly ripping it up at Meadow Lane, but it is still early days.
Brown turned 30 on Wednesday and should be in his prime, setting up plenty of goals, scoring bangers, and twisting defenders’ blood with a decent League One team.
Instead, he was blown out by the Gas and has only made six dismal substitute appearances in the league for the Magpies since entering at the conclusion of the transfer window, with no goals or assists in 84 minutes on the field.
Jevani Brown’s career statistics as of 16.10.24, according to FotMob.
Club
Games
Goals
Nottinghamshire County (loan
8
0
Bristol Rovers
41
2
Exeter City
81
21
Colchester United
62
11
Forest Green Rovers (Loan)
5
0
Cambridge United
95
14
Brown was vital in Exeter City’s promotion from League Two in 2021/22, when he was the perfect combination of a leader and a flair player, scoring seven goals and assisting on 12 in 43 games.
He was even better the next season for the Grecians, who were back in the third division, scoring 14 goals in 32 games and setting up another nine in all competitions, but off-the-field issues slowed his progress.
Brown’s final game for City would be a typically talismanic performance, scoring both goals in a 2-0 away win over MK Dons on January 28th, 2023.
At the time, the Grecians were concerned that they might never see him in red and white again, as Portsmouth were prominently connected with a move in the winter window.
The truth would be much more disappointing.
Jevani Brown was suspended by Exeter.
Brown’s City career ended just hours after a deadline-day deal to Pompey fell through, and with him tweeting “Wolf Of Wall Street” in a now-deleted tweet, a reference to the iconic ‘I’m not leaving’ line from the film of the same name.
That night, the Grecians were ecstatic that their star man had stayed. Brown was barred from playing at St James Park less than 24 hours after an incident away from the club resulted in legal action. His contract expired in the summer, and he failed to make another appearance for the team.
Bristol Rovers signed him on a free transfer, but he has never reached the same heights since.
Even the return of Matt Taylor, who managed him so effectively at Exeter, to the Memorial Stadium did not help Brown regain his form.
He has only two goals in 42 appearances across all competitions for the Gas.
Nottinghamshire County need to unlock Jevani Brown Magic Notts.
Based on his record at Exeter, he should be tearing it up at Notts – and perhaps he will in time.
Perhaps he has lost interest in the game, or it could be due to the systems he has utilized.
It can’t be because of the manager, as Taylor couldn’t get a tune out of him after taking over for Joey Barton at Rovers. It could be because he is a player who need the affection and support of his followers.
Even with everything that has happened since February 2nd, there are still a large number of City fans who want him back at Exeter, but that is unlikely to happen.
Notts fans must find a way to wrap their arms around the unpredictable forward, but it’s a two-way street.
Brown’s performances in Nottingham have given them little cause to be thrilled, and he must motivate himself as well.
He was given a lot of responsibility at Exeter, leading the attack and taking penalties, which he seemed to enjoy.
County entered the weekend in third place in League Two. If they can swiftly unlock Jevani Brown’s brilliance, they will have a good chance of moving up this season.
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