Woking target ‘winning culture’ after parting company with Neal Ardley

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Woking say they are determined to restore a “winning culture” after confirming the departure of manager Neal Ardley.

The Cards confirmed on Sunday evening, in a statement published on the club’s official website, that Ardley and assistant manager Simon Bassey had been relieved of their duties with immediate effect after a prolonged downturn in results.

The statement proclaimed that “this decision follows a decline in performances over the past two months which saw us go from within touching distance of the play-off positions and the opportunity of reaching the FA Trophy semi-finals to where we find ourselves today.”

National League North side Marine ended Woking’s FA Trophy dream at the weekend, sealing a 1-0 win that denied the Cards a semi-final place and a potential trip to Wembley.

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Results-orientated business

League form has also dipped. They have managed just two wins from their last nine National League outings and currently sit 17th, five points above the relegation zone – albeit with games in hand owing to their cup run.

It is worth noting that two of those three recent defeats came against promotion-chasing Forest Green Rovers and Scunthorp United, as well as title-chasing Rochdale, underlining the calibre of opposition faced during that run.

Yet they were four points off the play-off places in mid-December.

However, chairman Todd Johnson has decided to act, making what he believes is a necessary change to realign the club with its ambitions.

He said: “We’ve reached the conclusion that it’s time to make a change. Ultimately, this is a results-oriented business, and the results did not match our ambitions.

“Our focus is on building a positive, club-oriented, winning culture.

“We believe in this group of players and in creating the right environment for them to play with confidence, intent and ambition.”

Relieved

Ardley took over halfway through last season and steered the club to safety with a 15th-placed finish.

But after a promising start to the current campaign, the former AFC Wimbledon, Notts County, Solihull Moors and York City boss now leaves his post with only a few months of the season remaining.

Craig Ross, Jake Hyde and Dale Gorman have taken interim charge of the team and will be in the dugout for their trip to high-flying Boston United tomorrow night.

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