Paul Tisdale expects his Exeter team to remain focused over the coming weeks after the tragic death of Adam Stansfield.

The Grecians face Bristol Rovers in the league this Saturday before meeting Stansfield’s former club Yeovil in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on 30 August, just days after the 31-year old’s funeral.

“With the two clubs (Exeter and Yeovil) being connected with Adam Stansfield I think it will be quite poignant,” Tisdale told the Exeter Express and Echo.

“That will be the focus and there’s no doubt that we are well aware of the fondness that both clubs will have for Adam.

“We would like to win any game. I don’t want to over-egg it and say it’s the be all and end all. We are going to have to compete on quite a few fronts this year.

“There’s a day out at the end of it – if you’re successful you play at Wembley in a cup final and I certainly would place importance on the game and see no reason why we shouldn’t apply ourselves wholly to the game.”

The funeral of Exeter’s Adam Stansfield will take place on Wednesday August 25 at the city’s Cathedral Church of St Peter.

Stansfield died on Tuesday at the age of 31 following a battle with bowel cancer.

The funeral will take place at 2pm and will be followed by private internment.

The club postponed Saturday’s scheduled League One game at Dagenham & Redbridge.

Exeter fans who wish to make a donation can do so via the Adam Stansfield Foundation, which has been set up by his family for youth football in the South West of England. Donations can be made via a collection at the service, at the club reception or via Exeter’s official website, www.exetercityfc.co.uk, from midday on Wednesday August 18.

Donations can also be made to the Family Fund via the club reception and at the club’s official website from Tuesday August 17.

Dagenham manager John Still insists the decision to postpone Saturday’s trip to Exeter was a “no-brainer”.

The Daggers were quick to agree with the decision following the death on Tuesday night of Exeter striker Adam Stansfield at the age of 31 following a battle against bowel cancer.

Still told the club’s official website: “It’s a no-brainer.

“Everyone within the game of football, particularly within this league, will only have one thing on their mind and that is the devastation something like this causes.

“As the team that Exeter were due to play we were never in any doubt that if it was in Exeter’s best interests as a club to postpone the game then we would support that.

“Myself, I’ve known the player for quite a few years and I’m absolutely devastated. It is a tragic loss of a young man and it gives us all a wake-up call. Football is really important but it has to take a back seat at this particular time.”

Dagenham’s League One game against Exeter on Saturday has been postponed following Adam Stansfield’s passing.

Grecians striker Stansfield died on Tuesday at the age of 31 following a battle against bowel cancer.

A statement from Exeter read: “As you can no doubt imagine, the impact on everyone associated with the football club has been intense and immense and Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club, along with the Football League, have kindly agreed to the postponement of the game.

“We are extremely grateful to Dagenham & Redbridge for their understanding.

“No date has been set yet for the rearrangement of the game and details of refunds/re-use of tickets will be available shortly.”

Crystal Palace winger Sean Scannell could be ruled out until the New Year after knee surgery.

The 19-year-old suffered the injury in the recent pre-season friendly against Exeter and a specialist has told him he needs to go under the knife.

“He is going to have an operation on his knee next week and could be out for five or six months,” revealed manager George Burley.

“It didn’t seem like anything at the time. He came on against Exeter and caught his knee in the grass and a bit of bone has come away.”