Official Club Statement
Club confirms departure of manager Gary Waddock and Coach Martin Kuhl.
Aldershot Town Football Club announce that manager Gary Waddock has left the club and has agreed to take charge at Coca-Cola League One side Wycombe Wanderers.
Appointed in May 2007, Waddock was the fifth manager of the club, which was formed in 1992 after the demise of Aldershot FC. He fulfilled the dream of supporters as he steered the club into the Football League in his first season, winning the Conference with a record total of 101 points. The success completed a 17-year journey for the club, who started in the third division of the Isthmian League.
Gary also guided the club to win the Conference League Cup (Setanta Shield) during the course of the same season. He was also voted the "Non-League Manager of the Year" for 2007/08.
After stabilising the club in the Football League last season, Aldershot are currently in sixth position in League Two after an impressive start to the campaign.
The departing manager said, "This has been the hardest decision I have ever had to make. I have had a fantastic time at Aldershot Town. The players and the backroom staff have played such a massive part in the success that we have had.
"I wish to thank the supporters, too for their wonderful following during my time at Aldershot. They were first-class throughout and the relationship I had was first-class. I wish the club every success in the future. I like challenges, though and am extremely ambitious. I now have a new challenge ahead."
Coach Martin Kuhl will also be joining Gary at the Buckinghamshire club ending an eight-year association with Aldershot Town. Frimley-born Martin joined the club in 2001 and has served in a variety of positions, including Community Officer and Reserve and Youth Team manager. He became First Team Coach in 2003 when the club gained promotion to the Conference and also served as Caretaker Manager when Terry Brown departed in March 2007.
The club is now able to make an official statement following the conclusion of negotiations with Wycombe and long- term discussions over the last few days with the management team in the hope that we could find a way to retain their services. This included the offer of significantly improved long-term contracts. Unfortunately, both Gary and Martin have, after considerable deliberation, jointly decided to take up the challenge of League One football with Wycombe Wanderers.
The club would like to thank both Gary and Martin for their services to the club and for the success and achievements that we have had under their stewardship. We know that with the quality of the contracts we offered together with the long-term vision for the future of the club which we shared with them we made it a very difficult decision for them as confirmed in Gary's statement above. However, by late this afternoon, they had both decided that they would be leaving and we now wish them well in their future careers.
The club now has to look forward and begins the process of compiling a short-list of candidates with a view to appointing our new management team as soon as possible. We are very confident that with our position in the league and the strength of our squad that the quality of candidates will be very high.
There will be further statements made in due course regarding the ongoing managerial situation at the club.
