Manny Panther Talks
The signing of midfielder Manny Panther was a popular addition to the ranks for Shots supporters who recall the 26-year-old Glaswegian-born player from his days at Exeter City and, in particular, York City in the Conference era
Kevin Dillon was quick to pounce once he realised that the ex Scotland Under 15 year old schoolboy was available and it was an offer too good to be turn down for Manny who told The Shots Online , 'I am happy to be here. As soon as I got the phone call that Aldershot wanted to talk I came down and then it all went smoothly and was done pretty quickly.
'I know the club very well and have been here a few times and played against Aldershot over the years. The fans will know who I am and what I am all about and I am looking forward to it.'
In addition to having a familiarity to the club Manny has also scored against Aldershot at the EBB Stadium. He continued, 'It was for York City and it was a tap in late on in the match. Hopefully that will be the first of many here; I don't score too many during the course of the season'.
Manny arrives in Hampshire on the back of a loan spell at Morecambe last season and a promotion at Exeter City in 2008/09 as the Devon club cemented their arrival back into the Football League with a second successive promotion into Football League One. He recalls, 'I have been pretty lucky in that sense being with teams that have been successful and I have gained some good experience too.
'At Exeter we pushed on in the final 10 or 15 matches and we weren't expected to do so.
'I am sure Aldershot will have expectations to do well this season especially after reaching the play-offs last season and I am sure that the manager is keen to go one better this time around. I hope that I can add that bit of experience here. League Two is a tough league and if you look at Morecambe last season they were down the bottom of the table after 20 or so matches and people were looking at us as being relegation candidates.
'We added some experience and got on a run and did well. Having a good start is important though.'
Although Manny has been successful in England his career started in his native Scotland and it is something that he is proud of adding, 'I was pretty fortunate starting out in the Scottish Premier League with St Johnstone and we had a few big matches in some great stadiums such as Parkhead. I have learnt from those occasions to help my career.
'When I went to York City we also had some profile matches in the Conference play-offs and it has followed throughout my career. It is a long way from Scotland and my concentration now is to get familiar with this area and with the squad too.'
And of Aldershot Manny adds, 'Last year the club had a good, young athletic squad who passed the ball around. I know that some of the players have gone now and that happens to young, successful teams but there are new arrivals and I think that everything is in place to do well this season.
'The fans here have always got behind the teams and when you play as an away player you always look forward to coming to Aldershot because of the atmosphere. It is always a tough match and the fans always get behind the team as well as giving stick to the away team too.
'Aldershot have always had a decent home record over the past few years and I look forward to getting a good relationship with the fans as an Aldershot Town player now.'
