AFC Wimbledon have this morning announced that Neal Ardley has resigned as manager after six years in charge.
He was the third longest-serving manager in England’s top four divisions, having taken over in October 2012, but with the club 23rd in League One and only just beat Haringey Borough in the FA Cup on Friday.
CLUB STATEMENT | First team manager Neal Ardley is leaving the club by mutual agreement. We thank him for the massive role he has played for us over the last six years. Read the full statement here >>https://t.co/IAUFTgveXQ #AFCW pic.twitter.com/3qOv57EYiw
— AFC Wimbledon (@AFCWimbledon) November 12, 2018
A club statement read: “First team manager Neal Ardley is leaving the club by mutual agreement, with immediate effect.
“His assistant manager, Neil Cox, is leaving the club at the same time.
“First team coach Simon Bassey is taking over as interim manager while the search for a permanent successor to Neal gets underway.
“Ardley transformed the club from a playing and training point of view and also behind the scenes.
“His personal drive led to a major improvement in the training facilities both in terms of improved training pitches and the working conditions for the club staff.
“As a club, Wimbledon has always punched above its weight and Neal made sure we continued to do so for the following seasons culminating in winning a play-off final in 2015-16 where he led the team out at Wembley to fulfil a long term ambition.
“In the two seasons since that promotion Neal established us as a League One club despite the continued constraints on investment.
Chief Executive Erik Samuelson said: “Neal has been a credit to the club in everything he has done. He is a clear thinker, a superb man-manager and a fine coach. I’ve enjoyed working with him and am absolutely certain that he will achieve even greater success in his next roles. So, he leaves with my personal thanks and gratitude for what he has done in his time here at AFC Wimbledon.
“I also want to register the club’s and my personal thanks to Neil Cox who has provided massive support to Neal throughout his time here and has been a great ambassador for the club. We wish him well in his future career.”
AFC Wimbledon fans gave their reaction to the news, with many thanking him for what he did at the club – take a look at that reaction on the next page.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login