12 appearances and scored nine goals for the Magpies during his loan at the club. Nichols also made 12 appearances for Exeter City across the 2011–12 season, scoring one goal, as the club were relegated to League Two after finishing 23rd. In August 2012, Nichols joined Conference side Hereford United on a one-month loan deal, stating that he was 'pleasantly surprised' that Hereford wanted to sign him. He made his debut for the Bulls on 10 August 2012 against Macclesfield Town after coming on as a substitute. He scored his first goal for the club on 18 August 2012 in a 3–0 win away to Alfreton Town. His loan deal was extended for a further month in September 2012, though Nichols was recalled from his loan later that month by his parent club. He made nine appearances and scored one goal for the Bulls. He made his first Exeter appearance of the season as a substitute in a 3–2 home league victory over Wycombe Wanderers on 18 September 2012. In November 2012, Nichols joined Conference South side Bath City on a one-month loan. After making his debut for Bath City on 1 December in a 2–2 draw with Eastbourne Borough, he made seven appearances and scored one goal for the city, prior to being recalled by Exeter City on 25 January 2013. In March 2013, Nichols re-joined Conference South side Dorchester Town on loan, where he made five appearances and scored one goal. Nichols also made three appearances without scoring for Exeter City across the 2012–13 season. At the end of the season, he was offered a new contract with Exeter City for the 2013–14 season, which he signed in July 2013. Nichols' first appearance of the 2013–14 season came on 2 November 2013 as an 83rd-minute substitute in a 3–2 defeat away to Portsmouth. He scored his first goal of the season in his fourth appearance, with a 77th-minute equaliser in a 2–2 draw at home to Bury after coming on as a substitute. On his first start of the season in the following match on 14 December, he scored a brace in the first 11 minutes of a 3–2 win away to Accrington Stanley. After scoring his fourth goal of December from 25 yards in a 3–1 victory over Torquay United, Nichols was nominated for the League Two Player of the Month award for December 2013, but lost