Aldershot Town defender Jack Saville has signed a new one-year contract at the EBB Stadium.
Saville joined The Shots from Barnet last summer and made 26 appearances at centre-back and left-back, having played the same number of games for The Bees in winning the 2014-15 Vanarama Conference title.
“I’ve known Jack since his Barnet days, he did very well there and played in a few positions in a team which got promoted,” said Gary Waddock. “He was in and out (of the team) a bit last season but he’s a good centre-half, he’s got a good left-foot on him and that gives you balance. He’s a good character and a good personality, which I like as well.
“He knows that he’s got to knuckle down, and focus on his football, but I think he should be playing at a higher level, and I will work with him to help him achieve that. He’s got the attributes to do that and with some hard work along the way I’m sure we’ll get a good season out of him. I don’t think Shots fans have seen the best of him and with a good pre-season I think we’ll see a better player next year.”
“It was the manager more than anything, I just like his ways,” explained Saville on the reasons for extending his contract. “The person that he is, his training sessions, his management skills – it was a no-brainer. You just enjoy being around him. I had a few other clubs interested in me but I think I was always going to sign for Aldershot Town.
“I didn’t play as well as I can last season. I played well in some games but I got too many injuries,” he admitted, “and under Gary, if I can get a good run in the team, I’m definitely looking to kick on this season. I want to play every game.”
The Camberley-born defender is a graduate of the Reading and Chelsea youth academies and subsequently turned professional with Southampton in 2009, at the age of 18. Loan spells with Stockport County and Yeading United followed, before making his Football League debut with Barnet in November 2011, in a loan move which was soon made permanent. In four seasons with The Bees, 6ft 3 Saville made 81 appearances, plus a further 16 in loan spells at Hayes and Yeading and Ebbsfleet United.
