Sport

Football: Shots appoint Jason Dodd as caretaker

By Charlie Oliver
October 15, 2009

FORMER Southampton defender Jason Dodd has been named as the caretaker boss at Aldershot Town following the departure of Gary Waddock on Tuesday.

The club said it wanted to ensure a temporary manager was in place before players returned to training on Thursday in preparation for Saturday's League 2 encounter with Bury at The Rec.

Dodd, 39, made almost 400 appearances in a 15-year career on the south coast and was first team coach at St Mary's during George Burley's tenure.

He became joint caretaker manager alongside John Gorman in January 2008.

Assisting Dodd will be former Southampton colleague Paul Williams, 38, who also played for Coventry City, Stoke City, and Derby County, in both defence and midfield.

Dodd, speaking on Thursday morning, after meeting the players for the first time, said it was a 'pleasure' to be at Aldershot and that he and Williams would grasp the opportunity they had been offered, even if it only lasts for a fortnight or so.

"I know Nicky Banger [Aldershot's corporate sales manager] well from our time at Southampton. The club got in touch and asked us to come in and help," said Dodd.

"Our brief is simply to prepare the team for Saturday and see what happens after that. We cannot see into the future. But it's a great position for us. Even if we are just here for the weekend, it's an opportunity we are going to grab and enjoy."

Dodd has been scouting, chiefly for Middlesbrough, over the last year and has been to a number of matches at the Rec.

"I've seen Aldershot a few times," said Dodd. "The good thing is that I was here looking to see if players could step up to another level, so that shows that the players have been doing well. The players here are good players and obviously good enough to do well at this level, as they have been winning games. There is no reason why that cannot continue.

"We don't want to change too much, Gary [Waddock] has done a fantastic job. We may tinker with a few things before Saturday - but no more than that.

"The home form has been fantastic. The crowd here are great, too, I've seen that, and I can vouch that that really helps a player." Indeed, Dodd played much of his football at The Dell, a quirky, atmospheric ground that, like the Rec, sometimes caught opponents unawares.

As for that 'tinkering', Dodd, as a top-drawer defender, may perhaps be tempted to concentrate on Aldershot's defending - he was at the Rec last Saturday to see Morecambe lose 4-1 but not before they had opened up Aldershot's defence half-a-dozen times, in the first half.

But Dodd, like Waddock before him, said there was little point trying to make the Aldershot squad play against their attacking instincts.

"When you play attack-minded football, you can end up a little open at the back," said Dodd. "But attacking is the strength of this side and we want to build on that. Why change something that is working?

"We just need to get the lads back out enjoying themselves on the training ground, to give them a little peace of mind after an uncertain week."

Dodd said that he and Williams should dovetail well. "Paul is very similar to me," said Dodd. "Aldershot are a footballing side and we both like that way of playing. He is someone I can trust and the players will have a good rapport with him. He will bring out the best in me and vice versa. That way we have a good chance of putting our stamp on things here.

"As young coaches you need experience but it is very difficult to get that experience. But we have got our foot in here; let's enjoy it and see where it takes us."

As for Bury, Dodd said he was busy doing some homework on a side who have impressed so far this season on the road. After a sluggish start, they are climbing the table after being unlucky not to pip Wycombe to promotion last season

"I don't know too much about Bury but we will get some homework done today," said Dodd. "They travel well. Away from home there is probably less expectation than when they play at home. We'll have a little natter with Gary Waddock this afternoon, too. I will be bending his ear."

As to whether Andy Sandell and John Halls would return to the squad after injury, Dodd gave the honest answer: "I haven't got a clue. But I will know more later."

With that he headed off to take that first training session. At the moment it seems unlikely that Dodd will become the permanent manager but good results in the next two or three games - which are all tough, with trips to Shrewsbury and Rotherham following the Bury match - will surely make him a leading contender.

The club said it was 'delighted' to welcome Dood and Williams: "The club is delighted that Jason and Paul have been able to make themselves available at such short notice and look forward to working with them during the period of time they are with the club," a statement said.

"To have such quality caretaker management available to us at this time is fantastic news and ensures the club's progress towards promotion to League 1 can continue."

Meanwhile Aldershot have advertised the vacancy of manager and are accepting written applications by email or post. Interested parties should call the club on 01252 320211.

| Submit Comments