Fans encouraged after John Coleman speaks on decision to become new manager of Aldershot

Fans have been left encouraged after John Coleman speaks on the decision to become the new manager of Aldershot Town.

He comes in as replacement for Tommy Widdrington, who resigned with the club 19th in the National League after 3 wins in 14 games.

The experienced 63 year old expressed enthusiasm for the club’s potential during his first sit down interview, highlighting a productive initial morning meeting players and staff; he aims to replicate his Accrington success, building a culture of togetherness, hard work, and respect.

His vision includes a strong FA Cup run and returning to the Football League with attacking, front-foot football that fans will enjoy.

Interviewer: John, first of all, a warm welcome to Aldershot Town Football Club. How’s your first morning at the training ground been?

John: Yeah, you know, productive. Obviously, I’ve met the players, I’ve met the staff. I’m just getting the handle on, you know, the task ahead and what we’ve got to play with and looking for ways to go forward.

Interviewer: Perfect. Obviously, here at the EBB Stadium now, but this isn’t actually your first occasion being here, is it?

John: No, well, our first game at Accrington in the Conference as it was called then. Live on TV here, hottest day of year for some time. Well, I think it broke the records. We lost 2-1 in that game. We did score a great goal Andy Procter a volley. Great goal but we lost 2-1. And then, first time around, my last game for Accrington was here as well I think. So yeah, so it’s got good and bad memories for me.

Interviewer: Well, hopefully many more good memories to come. What drew you to Aldershot Town Football Club and how did those conversations start?

John: Quite, not only ours, but the lad who looks after me, my agents, had spoke to me while I was on holiday and asked me whether I’d be interested. And I think it’s got potential to be a big club. I’m not saying it’s not a big club, but it has a potential that, you you’re always looking for something to operate as a project and to try and take something forward. Now, I had the good fortune to be able to take Accrington a long way forward. I like to hope I can replicate that here.

Interviewer: Absolutely. Have you had much of a chance to assess the current squad and what are your initial thoughts?

John: Well, I went to the game on Saturday, obviously, and I’ve watched the last five or six games. So, you know, I know quite a bit about the players. Putting names to faces may be a matter. And, you know, if you just go quickly back to the game on Saturday, it’s a game we should never have lost. And so that gives you a heart that, you know, we can knuckle down, we can get results, which, you know, the first and foremost item on the agenda is to get away from relegation places. And I think every team is thinking the same. So that’s going to be difficult. I’m not under any illusions that it’s not a tough task. But I know we’ve got a set of players who want to work hard. You saw that on Saturday. And so that bodes well for the future, in my opinion.

Interviewer: Obviously the games are going to start coming thick and fast, but you’ve got this week to embed yourself with the current squad. Your first game actually is the FA Cup first round away at Weston Super mare. Quite an introduction.

John: Well it is and I keep going back to that, like things that draw you to Aldershot. My very first taste of an FA Cup game. My dad was an Evertonian, but he took me and my brother to watch Liverpool and my love for them. My very first FA Cup game I ever witnessed was Liverpool versus Aldershot. Liverpool won 1-0. John McLaughlin scored the goal that was in know, 50 odd years later. And then my first taste of a game as manager of Aldershot is going to be an FA Cup game. They’re doing really well Weston Super Mare. I think they’ve got an unbelievable defensive record, particularly at home. And so we’ve got to go there and be our very best and we’re going to get a result.

Interviewer: Yeah, what’s this week? Obviously, you’re really introducing yourselves, getting to know the players, but what does this first week kind of present for you?

John: Well, a little bit of, you know, deputation but excitement. And, it’s good to get your teeth stuck into it straight away. You you’ve got a big game coming up. And what I will say is I went to the game on Saturday as I’ve alluded to before. It’s a long way to Scunthorpe and I was delighted with the amount of fans and the noise they made and the support that they showed for the players, which was fantastic. So if you’ve got that, you’ve got a chance already, if you’ve got people who are that dedicated. And you know, I spent a little bit of this morning reminding the players that, you know, that they have a responsibility now to represent the town, to represent them fans and they’ve got to give their very best. And I’m a football fan myself, so first and foremost I’m a football fan. So I know all football fans think. And as a football fan, I can forgive a lot of things as long as I see effort and desire and determination. I like to think we’ve got that with our squad.

Interviewer: Well, building off of that, you as a manager, of all your years experience, what kind of culture do you want to build in the dressing room?

John: I want people to put the club first. em I want them to respect each other and respect everybody around them. know, when people do jobs that go under the radar or don’t get the credit for jobs, sometimes don’t get paid because they love the football club. I think that should be highlighted, that they should be respected. But the culture I’ve always tried to create is a togetherness, a willingness to work hard and to enjoy your work. Now that doesn’t mean that it becomes a holiday camp, know, far from it. But you should be able to go to work every day. We’re doing an unbelievable job being involved in football and we’re the envy of millions of people who’d love to do the same job. So you can’t take it for granted and you shouldn’t be blase about it. You know, some of our lads won’t have done any other jobs. I have had to do, have had to do a proper job basically. And you know, never ever, the novelty’s never wore off for me. You know, I’ve been managing full time now for well over 20 years and the novelty’s never wore off. I still feel, you know, I still enjoy it. I still get excited about it. And it was my dream as a kid growing up. So getting across to the players, don’t take things for granted, keep being the very best version of yourselves every day till you can’t play and it does creep up on you quicker than what you think.

Interviewer: Yeah, absolutely. Two relatively big questions to end it on. First of all, you’ve only been here for a morning, but what’s your vision for the club?

John: Well, my first vision, as I said before, I don’t say to look too far ahead. My first vision is to get away from the relegation spots. Obviously, I’d like a little run on the FA Cup, that’d be brilliant. I think that’d be brilliant for the club and it’d be brilliant for the fans. And you don’t know where that can take you. But, you know, my long-term vision is I’d like to see this club, you know, back into the Football League. I’ve done it before. Let’s hope that I can do it again.

Interviewer: Fantastic. Just finally… apart from what you’ve just said there, what message would you like to send to the Aldershot fans as you begin this new chapter?

Interviewer: Well, I’d like to think that, you know, they’ll appreciate that I’m a new manager coming in. And that’s not always easy because, you know, you’re coming in and you’re in an older team than the squad. So, you know, there will possibly be new faces before the weekend, a couple coming in. But I’d like to think that they’ll enjoy the type of football that I want to play. It will be on the front foot. I was a striker myself. I was fortunate enough to score plenty of goals. So I’d like to think we’ll be playing attacking football. And I’d like to think that they’ll respond to how I try to get across my ethos of high tempo when I work, and respect for the fans really.

As mentioned, fans have been left encouraged after John Coleman speaks on the decision to become the new manager of Aldershot…

@Stephen86035747: Can’t wait to see how the team develops under JC 🔴🔵

@grahambrookland: Another chapter and new era in the Aldershot @OfficialShots story. Wishing John Coleman every success on his appointment as our new manager. Up the Shots 🔴🔵👍

@ryantotdell: Great interview 👍 great news he said one or 2 incoming welcome To Aldershot John

@SteveyAsp: A decent interview and encouraging to hear there should be another couple of players in by the weekend. With the size of our squad I’m pretty sure there will have to be a few leaving at some point

@andynewell6814: Excellent interview! Good luck!

@nicholasbradford8976:
Welcome John, good luck!!!
COYS!!!

@DrewShotsFan: Welcome officially, Mr C. Nice interview, I like the cut of your jib, sir. COYS ❤️💙

@darrencox9529: First game FA cup, as you said. This Club does have potential. We Must win Saturday, and then, you will see, the support. Yes in the league, it’s about finishing mid table. But the cups, we still can have a good season. 20000 people can’t be wrong. COYS

@WhiskyShotATFC: JOHN COLMAN’S RED AND BLUE ARMY! 🔴🔵🔴🔵

@nicholasbradford8976: We do have quality in the squad it just needs to be brought out and the players played in appropriate positions

@foreverayellow: ah i really hope he does well and gets aldershot back in the efl, long overdue, always rather liked the club and their ground after my visit there