Aldershot Town FC

Bishop exit fuels Aldershot Town takeover rumours

By Jon Couch
January 15, 2013

ALDERSHOT Town have revealed that the shock departure of assistant manager Matt Bishop this week was down to "restructuring" at the club, both on and off the field.

While manager Dean Holdsworth was celebrating his second anniversary in charge of the Shots, his 39-year-old trusted assistant 'Bish' was packing up his desk and heading for pastures new, following a whole host of recent casualties.

Bishop came with Holdsworth from Newport County in Janaury 2011 after having previously worked as a coach for the Football Association of Wales.

On helping the Welsh club to the Blue Square South title, Bish has since become a big hit at the EBB Stadium, assisting Holdsworth to a creditable 11th-place finish in League Two last season, while also helping to earn the club a lucrative Carling Cup fourth round tie at home to Manchester United last seaso and, of course, an FA Cup clash at Middlesbrough next Saturday.

"Bish and I have been through so much together and shared some excellent times," boss Holdsworth said on his assistant's departure.

"It has been enjoyable working with him and his work ethic is fantastic. The management and players wish him all the best and thank him for the contribution he has made. He has been part of a special relationship. We wish him every success for the future."

Bishop is the latest big-name departure at the EBB Stadium in recent weeks, adding further fuel to rumours that the club is set for an imminent change of ownership.

Chief executive Richard Low and commerical manager Ryan Murrant have moved on to similar roles at Crawley Town, while company secretary Simon Groves also announced he was to step down last week.

On the playing front, Holdsworth is now left with first-team coach Matt Gray to assist him, while some believe that experienced youth team coach Terry Boyle could play a bigger part in the senior set-up.

Bishop could at least go out on a high note having helped guide the Shots to a 2-0 home win over Accrington Stanley on Saturday.

Goals in either half from Troy Brown and Dani Lopez capped another dominant performance from the Shots, although victories for rivals Barnet, Bristol Rovers, Plymouth and a draw for AFC Wimbledon in the lower reaches of League Two mean Holdsworth's men are still only three points off the foot of the table despite their recent resurgence.

The boss said: "I thought we were dominant in the game. Some of our build-up play and the touches between the front pair were excellent and really good signs. They just lacked the finish.

"You look at that bench and there were good options. We shored it up and I thought it was a good squad performance."

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