Gary Waddock Talking About Aldershot and QPR

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PFA's Give me Football - Interview with Gary Waddock

Gary Waddock is a busy man as Aldershot Town prepare for life back in the Football League after a 16-year absence. The Shots romped to the Blue Square Premier League title after being wound up with crippling debts and their records expunged in 1992. However, whilst supporters are celebrating the romance of another seemingly doomed club returning to the league just three years after Accrington Stanley's rise, Waddock is concentrating on building a new squad to keep momentum flowing at the Recreation Ground. And as givemefootball discovered, there is no rest for Waddock even as he embarks on his annual holiday.

Q WHAT IS THE LATEST SITUATION WITH THE CONTRACT SITUATION REGARDING PLAYERS' PLAYER OF THE YEAR NIKKI BULL?
AIt's been a bit difficult being away as it appears the situation has been changing from day to day. I did speak to Nikki last week by phone but that is never the same as talking face to face. But I haven't spoken to him since the announcement that no new contract had been agreed and he was leaving. I need to make sure it really is the case. Until he signs for another club, has the door really closed? I don't want to pass comment until there is news that he has signed for another club. I wanted Nikki to stay as he was outstanding for us last season. He's been an important part of the club and one of the major reasons we won promotion. But there has been speculation and rumours regarding Nikki's future for years. So I have already been trying to prepare in case he was to leave. [Note: Nikki Bull has now agreed a new Aldershot contract]

Q YOU HAVE ADDED PLAYERS TO YOUR SQUAD ALREADY HAVEN'T YOU?
A Dean Howell has good quality and is quick and athletic. He ticks the right boxes. I've known about Dean for some time. He is versatile and can play in left midfield or even on the left side of three centre backs. Chris Blackburn is a player I've had my eye on for a while. I watched him a fair bit at Morecambe the season before last, including when they won the play-off final. He then got his move to Swindon, so he's experienced but young too. Chris is a good footballer and will add healthy competition. He's a good passer of the ball but strong and aggressive as well. And he can lead too. He's not a ranter and a raver but he's a good organiser.


Q AREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO BE ON HOLIDAY AT PRESENT?
A I know you do need a break but I'm not that type of guy. When the phone rings it might be the difference between gaining a good player or not. It's the same on Sundays in the season too, it's non-stop. I wouldn't want it any other way. I had a period after QPR when the phone didn't ring because I was out of work and I know it will stop again when I'm next out of work. That's the nature of it and we just have to make sure we keep developing and moving Aldershot forward and if that means being on the phone on holiday, so be it.


Q HOW DO YOU THINK THE SIDE WILL COPE IN LEAGUE TWO AS LAST YEAR'S CHAMPIONS DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE AVOIDED RELEGATION BY A WHISKER?
A This group of players, if we keep them together, there's great potential. I don't see any reason why we can't go into League Two and do well. We have to add to what we've got and bring in some more quality and tinker with the group. Let's just see where we are this time next year. There is loads of work to do at Aldershot and I'm committed to two years. The club and I have spoken regarding renewing my contract and Im waiting for the club to come back to me. But I'm not the concern; the players are the more important ones. Besides, while things didn't go right at QPR and they have here, I'm no different today than I was then. Does that make me a good or a bad manager? It's more that people thought I couldn't do it, now they think I can.


Q ARE YOU CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO BRING IN THE RIGHT PLAYERS TO MAINTAIN YOUR STRONG TEAM SPIRIT?
A The players may be young but they have their feet firmly on the ground. Everybody could sense that this year. They never got carried away; they never spoke of winning promotion or being champions. They just got on with the job in hand. If it was another group, it might have been different. You can't do well, we can't be celebrating come December. You have to move on. The players who haven't been offered new deals were upset and weren't happy, but that is part of my job. I have to do that. All the players are good ones and have played their part. It is a difficult side of the job. Everybody knows the type of players I like, but if I'm after one player, then there will be other managers after that player too. Hence the need never to miss a phone call.


Q WERE YOU EXPECTING PROMOTION SO SOON AT ALDERSHOT AFTER A DIFFICULT SPELL IN CHARGE AT QUEENS PARK RANGERS?
A QPR was a valuable learning experience for me. I've always wanted to be a manager and I really wanted it to work at QPR as it was my club and had been a large part of my life. Unfortunately, it didnt work out. But it didn't put me off being a manager. I just wanted an opportunity to show that I could do it and Aldershot gave me the chance and I thank them for that. It's worked extremely well but it could have backfired, massively. If it had, what would I be doing now? I just don't know. But I think if Aldershot had gone wrong, I might be looking at another career.
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