THERE have been some key signings already for Aldershot Town during the close season but probably the most important of them all came this week: a new, longer contract for manager Gary Waddock.

Waddock and his assistant  and first team coach Martin Kuhl, who together masterminded the Shots’ triumphant promotion to the Football League last season, signed new, three-year contracts on Tuesday.

So far their relationship with Aldershot has been a marriage made in heaven — very like their own partnership.

Just ask Shots chairman John McGinty. “Gary and Martin are good guys,” he said. “I think they make a good married couple.”

On a more serious note, McGinty added: “Our ambition was to keep Gary and now that is fixed. We have retained one of the best managers in the Football League.

“I’m especially pleased for Martin too. This is good news for the stability of the club and shows things are progressing the way they should. I think Gary and Martin will be rewarded here during the period they have committed to us. They are well looked after here.”

It is the perfect fillip for the club ahead of the new season in League Two, with the players returning for pre-season training on Monday (June 30).

Waddock has kept, bar Joel Grant, all the players he wanted to from last season — the likes of Nikki Bull, Rhys Day, Lewis Chalmers and Ben Harding were all out of contract but agreed new deals — and he has added Marvin Morgan, Chris Blackburn and Dean Howell to his squad.

And now he and Kuhl have committed long-term to the club too.

Given that Waddock has just one year left on his original contract, it is little wonder McGinty said he felt ‘relieved’ that his ambitious management team have signed up to stay with the Shots.

Waddock was equally pleased. “I’m delighted,” he said. “Three years show mine and Martin’s commitment to the club and the club’s commitment to us. It is a two-way street.

“We are all ambitious and this strengthens our position and the club’s. With a three-year deal you know where you are.”

With probably a couple more players to be added to the squad before the start of the season at Accrington on August 9 — almost certainly a right back and possibly another two midfielders — Waddock’s new contract will help impress on any potential new recruits that Waddock is planning for the long-term, which can only be good news.

On his arrival at the club little more than a year ago Waddock talked not just of promotion to League Two but taking the club higher still, over a period of a few years. This new contract is, he hopes, the next progression towards that goal.

“Hopefully we can push forward and the new contracts for me and Martin give us the opportunity to do that,” said Waddock. “Successful clubs tend to have stability and managers who have stayed at the club for a few years, so hopefully we can show that too.

“We want to take this club as high as we can, over a period of time. We are extremely positive but only time will tell whether it will happen. As for this coming season, the important thing is to get off to a good start.”

Waddock, as ever, was quick to praise Kuhl, his right hand man. “Martin is an excellent coach and from day one at Aldershot we have got on and clicked. I am very pleased that he has signed for the same length of time as me.”

Waddock revealed that he and the club had talked about a new contract during last season but he had said he didn’t feel it was the right time to discuss a new deal — and the talks were put off until the summer.

“I wanted to concentrate on promotion, which we gained, and then I wanted to get the players I wanted to stay to sign up. That was the main thing.

“Some of them wanted to know whether I would be around beyond my initial contract and I said that was my aim and now Martin and I have signed the contracts.”

Kuhl was even more forthright in his ambitions with Aldershot. “I think Gary and I are both exciting coaches and we have ambitions and the players know that. We want to get as high as we did when we were playing.

“Instead of just staying in the league, we want to push on again. And instead of drawing games, we want to be winning them.”

Considering both Waddock and Kuhl played in the top flight, those comments give an indication as to the extent of the ambitions of Aldershot’s management duo.

Waddock and Kuhl demand just as much drive from their players.

“The key for this season is no different to last season,” said Waddock. “Hard work from everyone.

“If any of the players come back on Monday out of shape they will be found out straight away.

“And no one is guaranteed a place in the team. I want lots of competition for places and that is what we have. I may yet bring in a couple more players too.”

Waddock is looking forward to seeing his new recruits fit into the squad come Monday.

“Last season we had a group that gelled extremely well. We have had to make sure that the players we have added are better than the ones they have come in for and I believe that to be the case.

“But no one will ever be guaranteed a starting spot.”