The Journeyman - A FM 21 Story

[jasontoddwhitt]

CLUB NEWS

Wealdstone adds two

The club has announced the arrival of two players.

18-year-old English midfielder Jack Wells-Morrison has joined on a season-long loan from Sky Bet Championship side Crystal Palace. Last season, Wells-Morrison made 30 appearances for Crystal Palace's reserve sides, scoring two goals and nabbing one Man of the Match award with an average match rating of 6.85.

"Jack instantly becomes a star player for us," said manager Drew Welch. "He's a very determined individual whose passing ability underlines his technical prowess. I'm glad that Crystal Palace has agreed to send him here."

18-year-old English center back Jack Wilson has signed a two-year, $10.25k contract with incentives that can take it to $16.4k. Wilson, a product of the Stevenage youth academy, had been on a per appearance deal with National League North side King's Lynn Town, but Wealdstone was willing to sign him to a contract for his potential.

"We certainly had next year in mind with this signing," said Wealdstone general manager Michael Shaw. "He's definitely a depth piece for us this year, but if he takes the next step in his development, he could find himself in the starting lineup for us."

Askew leaves club

The signing of keeper Adam Smith made it very likely that Jake Askew was going to move on, and that has happened. Askew, who has been operating on a per appearance deal the past two seasons as the backup keeper, has left the club after signing a two-year contract with League Two side Bradford City to serve as their backup keeper.

"I don't bemoan Jake leaving," said manager Drew Welch. "He had moved to third on the depth chart and I highly doubt he wanted to be an emergency keeper. I wish him luck in his future endeavors."

Askew made 14 starts across all competitions the past two seasons, collecting three shutouts.

National League honors

Midfielder Jack Wells-Morrison finished second in voting for the National League Young Player of the Month award for the month of August after registering two goals and an average match rating of 7.30 across six starts. Fylde striker Shae Hutchinson won the award after scoring six goals across six starts with an average match rating of 7.35.

Players of the Month

CB Josh Meekings - 7 apps, 1 goal, 0.14 xG, 7.21 match rating
WB Michee Efete - 7 apps, 0.41 xG, 7.20 match rating
GK Jacob Russell - 7 apps, 6 shutouts, 23 saves, 5.17 xGA, 7.36 match rating



The good news is this may just be one of the best defensive teams I have ever coached. The signing of Adam Smith has spurred Jacob Russell to take that next step and he recorded six shutouts in seven starts to start the season out. He had 14 all of last season. We've conceded one goal to start the season.

The worrisome bit is our goal scoring has been a bit of a letdown. We've only scored nine goals, which is good for 10th in the league, and we've been shut out twice. I think we'll get it together sooner rather than later. While it is worrisome that Danny Parish only has two goals to start the season, he has already collected two assists this season, matching his season high from the prior two seasons. It's safe to say that is the silver lining.

Back to Adam Smith...it appears he is not happy with my decision to stick with Jacob Russell. I'm going to ride the hot hand at the keeper position, and even Stevie Wonder could see that Jacob is the number one right now. Adam has been rather mopey on the training pitch the past few sessions and I called him out on it, which he also didn't appreciate.

Thank God we're not a huge club, or what transpired next probably would've been front and center on all the rags here. It wasn't my proudest moment, but I'm not going to get disrespected by a player. Never thought I would end up nose to nose with a player and being pulled away by both my staff and fellow players.

Embarrassing? Perhaps. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed. And I can take solace in the fact that my club leadership (captain Michee Efete, vice-captain Josh Meekings, Alex Dyer, and Dan Wishart) all stopped by my office to make sure I was okay and that Adam was completely 100% out of line.

Hopefully, that puts the entire situation to rest. I know Adam is having some trouble settling in, but you would expect a veteran to act better than that.

[jasontoddwhitt]

CLUB NEWS

Wealdstone hits the loan market

Throughout the month of September, Wealdstone hit the loan market hard, bringing in four players to bolster the ranks of the first team.

21-year-old English striker Alfie Matthews has joined on a season-long loan from Sky Bet Championship side Crystal Palace, joining his teammate Jack Wells-Morrison. Matthews, a product of the Arsenal youth academy, made 25 appearances for the Crystal Palace U-23 side, scoring six goals and registering two assists with a match rating of 6.70.

21-year-old English wing-back James Clark has joined on a season-long loan from Sky Bet League One side Wycombe. Clark, a product of the Brentford youth academy, made 19 appearances for the Wycombe U-23 side, scoring a goal and registering an assist with a match rating of 6.89. Clark made his professional debut for Wycombe earlier in the year appearing as a sub in their 2-0 victory over MK Dons, but the Wanderers felt Clark needed more game time this season.

Despite Clark passing his physical, he broke down during his first training session with the club and was diagnosed with shin splints. Wealdstone decided to hang on to him, as he should be back sometime next month. While some fans clamored that Wycombe withheld information in his medical files, Wealdstone stood by their physical and that it was a "non-issue".

19-year-old English center-back Charlie Barker has joined on a season-long loan from Sky Bet Championship side Charlton Athletic. Barker made 22 appearances for the Charlton U-23 side, scoring three goals with a match rating of 6.66.

26-year-old English midfielder Brad Spencer has joined on a season-long loan from Sky Bet League Two side Mansfield Town. Spencer has fallen out of favor at Mansfield, only making two appearances for the club last year.

"These four signings strengthen our squad," said Director of Football Michael Shaw. "We needed some numbers and we needed to improve the quality of our first eleven. We are very happy with the direction of this squad."

"I'm really excited about Alfie joining us," said manager Drew Welch. "While we have two very capable strikers in Danny Parish and Andrew Dallas, we learned last year that you need depth. Injuries happen. So to bring Alfie in from Crystal Palace is a big coup for us. He's a pacey, physical striker and I think he'll be a big signing for us."

Record breaking start for Wealdstone

We are eleven games into the season, and Wealdstone still hasn't lost. Dating back to last season, Wealdstone is currently on a 13-game unbeaten streak, breaking the previous club record of nine games. Wealdstone had a streak of seven games without conceding a goal, breaking the previous record of four games set in 2020 in Welch's first season.

"Only way this start could've been better would be a few more wins," said Welch. "Defensively, we have taken another step. Jacob Russell has taken the next step in his development and has started the season in outstanding form. He had 13 shutouts all of last season and he already has 10 this season. If our goal-scoring starts to catch up with our defense...watch out."

Wealdstone has only allowed a league-low two goals through the first 12 games of the season. The strong start led to Welch finishing second in voting for the Manager of the Month voting for the month of September.

Medical Center

* WB James Clark -- receiving specialist treatment for shin splints suffered in training on 9/13. Clark is estimated to return to training by 10/20.
* ST Dominic Hutchinson -- suffered a twisted knee during U-23 0-0 draw against Witton on 9/25. Hutchinson is estimated to return to training by 10/2.

Stars of the Month

GK Jacob Russell - 5 apps, 4 shutouts, 10 saves, 4.35 xGA, 7.22 rating
CM Casey Petit - 4 apps, 1 assist, 0.23 xG, 7.30 rating
CB Hugh Ferris - 4 apps, 1 goal, 0.60 xG, 7.33 rating



It's been quite the start of the season for us. I personally would like a few more wins, but we are sitting in third place and only five points behind S****horpe. We got a scoreless draw against them on the road, so I'm confident about the return leg in January.

This may be the best defensive team I've had, which is astonishing considering a lot of these guys have been here since the beginning. I'm not sure if that's because they have just gotten that much better, or if the keeper has gotten that much better. Jacob Russell has been playing as a man possessed. The kid has definitely earned his keep.

On the flip side of that, Adam Smith is not happy about being the backup. While my coaching staff feels we should split the playing time between the two to appease Smith, I just simply don't agree with that. Russell earned this outright. Smith didn't show anything special in the preseason, he hasn't shown anything special in the reserves sides, and he hasn't shown me anything in training. Hell, he didn't even show up for training yesterday.

If you're trying to convince me that you deserve playing time, blowing off training is probably not the best way to do it. This is by far the greatest locker room issue I've ever had in my team. Luckily, the team sees it my way. We definitely have buyer's remorse on this one. Hopefully, the fine gets his head back in the game.

Mr. Fitzgerald has called me in tomorrow for a meeting. I wonder what that could be about?

[jasontoddwhitt]

"You gave me a payroll budget and a transfer budget. So what if I shifted some of that payroll budget to cover loan fees?"

This is apparently not going to be one of those good meetings. The board is less than pleased that the club is diving deeper into the red. They are not necessarily happy with our financial handling. President Fitzgerald is trying to keep the peace.

"The board just feels that some of these loan fees are a bit on the high side Michael," said Mr. Fitzgerald.

"Well, if you want clubs to loan you good young talent, sometimes you have to pay," fired back Michael. "We are in third place, so what exactly is the problem?"

"Michael, I realize you and Drew are in charge of the footballing, but we are in charge of the sustainability of this club," said Director Randall.

The most surefire way I know to improve the sustainability of this club is to just win.

"Enough," said Mr. Fitzgerald. "This was not the main purpose of this meeting. Yes, we are all aware of the financial issues that the stadium expansion caused. Yes, Michael, we gave you and Drew a budget and you have not exceeded that. We were hoping the stadium expansion and our strong play out of the gate would lead to increased attendance. It has, but not to the level we were hoping. So the goal is to keep winning, which Drew, you have been doing a great job of."

Thank you sir.

"You are in the final year of your contract, and I just want to say you exceeded all of our expectations. Based in no small part on Michael's recommendation, as well as your interactions with us, the players, and the fan base, we would like to offer you a contract extension," said Mr. Fitzgerald.

I'm honored, sir.

Mr. Fitzgerald slid a memorandum of understanding over to me. "These are the financial terms of the agreement we are offering. Look it over with your agent and if this is agreeable, then we can draft the formal contract."

Memorandum of Understanding

Contract Expiration: 30 June, 2025

Yearly Breakdown of Salary:

2022/23 Season: $66,500
2023/24 Season: $66,500
2024/25 Season: $66,500

Total Salary: $199,500

Clauses:

Promotion Salary Raise: 15% ($76,475)
Relegation Salary Drop: 35% ($49,260)
Compensation Required for Coaching Job: 80% of the remaining contract value

***

That last clause raised my eyebrow. They are not stipulating a full buyout of my contract. To me, this says that they realize their level of ambition and my level of ambition are not the same. Still, the pay raise would be nice.

[jasontoddwhitt]

CLUB NEWS

Drew Welch extends stay for three years

At a press conference today, the club announced that manager Drew Welch has signed a three-year contract extension that will take him through the 2024/25 season.

"I remember when people said we were foolish for hiring a no-name American coach three years ago," said club president Rory Fitzgerald. "Drew has surpassed all of our expectations, which is why we felt the need to not let this contract situation linger deep into the season."

"I'm happy to get this done," said Welch. "This club gave me a chance to pursue a dream, and this club will always have a special place in my heart. I'm glad we've got this sorted so that we can focus on football the rest of the season."

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but club sources say that the manager was given a raise on his previous contract. Welch has been at the club since the 2020-21 season. In 122 matches, Welch has compiled a record of 57W - 35D - 30L.

Wealdstone adds Garande

With Wealdstone allowed to add one more long-term loan, the Stones went the defensive route.

19-year-old English wingback Kai Garande has joined on a season-long loan from Sky Bet Championship side Charlton Athletic, joining his teammate Charlie Barker. Garande spent last season on loan with National League South side Dartford, where he made 50 starts across all competitions. Garande scored two goals and collected an assist with an average match rating of 6.66.

However, Welch feels he can get the most out of Garande.

"We have a good track record of putting guys in good situations, so I'm glad Charlton agreed to send another one of their prospects," said Welch. "Kai is pacier than Dan Wishart, so it does give us some nice options for the left wingback position."

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Wealdstone advance to FA Cup First Round

Wealdstone traveled to Dorchester to take on Dorchester Town in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. After failing to get out of the qualifying rounds last season, anything less than making the FA Cup proper this season would've been seen as a failure.

Wealdstone handled the challenge from the Isthmian Division One squad with ease, cruising to a 3-1 victory. Wealdstone jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half with a brace from Andrew Dallas and another goal by Brad Spencer.

"I was upset we didn't secure the shutout by leaking a late goal in the second half," said manager Drew Welch. "But we advanced this year, so that gets the sour taste of last season out of our mouths."

Wealdstone drew National League rival S****horpe United in the first round of the FA Cup. S****horpe defeated Chorley in the fourth qualifying round by a score of 4-1.

Bloody October for National League managers

If Drew had wanted to leave Wealdstone, he definitely had options. Four clubs in the National League are looking for managers as of press time.

The first guillotine to drop was on Wrexham's manager Dean Keates. After getting Wrexham promoted to League Two by winning the National League in 2021, Wrexham was relegated back to the National League after finishing last in League Two last season. Keates survived that, but supporter pressure following a slow start to the season forced Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to relieve him of his duties on October 4 following a 3-1 defeat to Guiseley that left Wrexham languishing in 18th. The oddsmakers have tagged former Preston North End player Matthew Connolly as the favorite for the job. Connolly's only coaching experience was a 36-day stint as Preston's interim coach in 2021.

Supporter pressure would also see Stockport fire Alun Armstrong after only 257 days on the job. Stockport is languishing in 23rd place, but they are only three points from clearing the relegation zone and have plenty of time to right their ship. Oddsmakers have tagged Chorley assistant manager Andy Preece, who played for Stockport from 1991-94 during his playing career.

Sitting in dead last is never good for job security, even if you had been at the club since 2018. Andy Hessenthaler was let go due to Dover being in 24th place. After surviving last season, it's apparent that Dover is very much in danger, with no wins in 18 matches. Oddsmakers have pegged former Morecambe manager Keith Curle as the favorite for the job. Morecambe fired Curle after surviving the drop from League Two in 2021.

After finishing 7th last season, Dag & Red dropped to 18th after going winless in October. In response, the club fired manager Craig Highnett 18 matches into his second season on the job. Oddsmaker has pegged former Bristol Rovers manager (and lightning rod in general) Joey Barton for the job. Barton's first season with Briston Rovers saw them finish 6th in League One, but a slow start last season doomed him after only 18 matches.

Stars of the Month

1. MF Brad Spencer -- 7 apps, 1 goal, 0.29 xG, 7.04 rating
2. ST Alfie Matthews -- 7 apps, 1 goal, 4 assists, 2.66 xG, 7.20 rating
3. WB Dan Wishart -- 6 apps, 0.57 xG, 7.05 rating



First of all, I was extremely pleased to sign a contract extension with Wealdstone. These guys gave me my first opportunity at the senior level, and I will be forever grateful. Especially with four managers out of jobs this month, I feel grateful to have the support of my board, my staff, the supporters, and my players...well, the vast majority of them. But that point has been covered in these journals multiple times.

This month was definitely a mixed bag. We finally lost a game. It was bound to happen considering our play of late. Our goal scoring has really been disappointing this year. 17 goals in 18 matches is a very pedestrian stat. We are really underperforming our xG (23.9 xG vs 17 goals). The analytics show that the luck should swing back in our direction. We're getting plenty of shots, we are just struggling with getting them on target.

There is still a lot of football to go.

[jasontoddwhitt]

BT Sport Match of the Week



MATCH REPORT | Wealdstone 3-2 Eastleigh

After dropping their last two league games, Wealdstone was able to get back into the win column with a 3-2 victory over Eastleigh in front of the home faithful on a breezy day that felt more like early autumn.

The Stones took a 1-0 lead into the break after youngster Dominic Hutchinson finally scored his first goal of the season in his 16th appearance. After scoring seven goals last season, many supporters were hoping the former Watford youth would take the next step in his development but he has left many of them disappointed by taking a step back.

"I always say that first one is the hardest," said manager Drew Welch. "His on-target percentage has actually been better this year than last, but he's struggling with beating the keeper. I'm happy for the young man and hopefully, this will give him some confidence and he has plenty of time to fill the pages of this season."

Danny Parish added two goals in the second half, which Wealdstone needed after some defensive lapses allowed Eastleigh to crawl back into the game. The Stones however were able to close out the victory.

"The team is a little gassed," said Welch. "This is our fourth match in ten days. We've got three more over the next 11. So, it's definitely a test of our depth. But, that's why you have more than a first eleven."

Wealdstone: Russell - 6.6, Spencer-Adams - 6.7, Barker - 6.9, Barrett - 6.8, Efete - 6.7 (Dyer - NR), Garande - 6.7, Petit - 6.7 (Wishart - NR), Davis - 7.7, O'Leary - 6.9, *Parish - 8.3, Hutchinson - 7.5

Subs Not Used: Smith, Meekings

Match Highlights

[jasontoddwhitt]

CLUB NEWS

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Wealdstone advance to FA Cup Third Round for the first time since 1978

After last year's flameout in the qualifying rounds, manager Drew Welch vowed that Wealdstone would advance to the FA Cup proper this year.

He achieved that and more.

Drawing National League leader S****horpe United in the first round of the FA Cup, the Stones knew that they were going to be in for a tough match against the Iron. Having already played to a draw in league action though, supporters were sensing that their club had a chance to advance.

Wealdstone was the aggressor throughout, and if not for nine saves by S****horpe's keeper Anthony Patterson (on loan from Sunderland), Wealdstone could've won in regular time. With the score tied at nil-nil, the match would go all the way to penalties, with Wealdstone winning 5-4, with Jacob Russell getting the loan save on the final penalty.

"We were always the aggressor and it seemed they were content to play for penalties," said Welch. "I would've rather avoided the penalty shootout as our play didn't merit it. But lady luck awarded us today."

For the first time since 1983, Wealdstone advanced to the second round of the FA Cup to take on fellow National League side York City, currently sitting one point behind Wealdstone in eighth place. Russell was magnificent on the day, stopping all eight of York's shots on target as a goal by Alfie Matthews in the 76th minute would see Wealdstone advance to the third round of the competition.

"We controlled possession, but their counterattack was strong," said Welch. "Jacob (Russell) saved our bacon on numerous occasions today. I am so proud of how much he has grown as a keeper this year compared to last year. It's a night and day difference."

Wealdstone will face a steep challenge in the third round, as they go on the road to take on Championship side Reading. The Royals enter the competition in the third round and are currently 16th in the Sky Bet Championship.

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Wealdstone draw Torquay United in FA Trophy

The draw for the third round of the FA Trophy has taken place, and Wealdstone will host fellow National League side Torquay United.

Last year, Wealdstone advanced to the fourth round of the competition before being upset by Billericay Town on their way to promotion into the National League. Torquay was knocked out in the third round of the competition by that very same Billericay club.

Stars of the month

#1 ST Andrew Dallas - 5 apps, 5 goals, 2.68 xG, 7.40 rating
#2 WB Michee Efete - 5+1 apps, 3 assists, 0.10 xG, 7.12 rating
#3 ST Alfie Matthews - 4+1 apps, 2 goals, 0.56 xG, 6.98 rating



While a lot of the world is watching the World Cup now, we are still playing. This was a frustrating month. We had some very big wins and a couple of very frustrating losses. We scored five against Altrincham and then turn around and get shut out by York. But then we return the favor in the FA Cup.

We are in the middle of a historical run in the FA Cup for this club. While it's probably going to end in the next round when we play Reading, I'm very proud of this team. And the board is very pleased as well. They were more than happy to report that the prize money has nearly brought us back into the black.

Hey, if I can keep the board, the accountants, the players, and the supporters all happy...that must mean I'm a successful manager, right?

[jasontoddwhitt]

CLUB NEWS

December Summary



Wealdstone FC had a mixed month of December, with four wins and two losses in various competitions. In the National League, Wealdstone recorded two important home victories against Barnet and Aldershot, with a narrow 1-0 scoreline in both matches.

However, the team's FA Trophy campaign came to an end after a 1-3 away defeat to Torquay in the third round. Wealdstone then bounced back with a convincing 2-0 win away at Dover in the National League.

On Boxing Day, Wealdstone hosted Dag & Red and secured a comprehensive 3-0 victory in the National League, showing their dominance at home. However, the team's hopes in the FA Cup were dashed when they lost 0-1 away to Reading in the third round on New Year's Eve.

Overall, it was a mixed bag of results for Wealdstone FC in December, with some impressive victories in the National League, but also some disappointing losses in the cup competitions. The team will be looking to build on its successes in the league in the coming months.

Danny Parish Named National League Player of the Month for December

Wealdstone striker Danny Parish has been voted as the National League Player of the Month for December, following a run of impressive performances that helped his team secure important victories.

Parish's four goals in four appearances, along with an average match rating of 7.57, earned him the recognition he deserves after enduring a difficult start to the season. The 24-year-old striker had lost his starting position due to poor form but worked hard to regain his confidence and form.

Parish's first goal of the month came in the game against Aldershot, which Wealdstone won 1-0. He then scored the opening goal in the 2-0 victory over Dover. His final two goals of the month came in the 3-0 drubbing of Dag & Red.

Parish's contribution to the team's success in December cannot be understated. He was a constant threat to opposing defenses, using his pace and skill to create chances for himself. His goals were crucial in helping Wealdstone climb up the National League table and secure important victories at a critical time in the season.

Parish's performances in December have earned him the recognition he deserves, and it's clear that his hard work and determination have paid off. He will undoubtedly be hoping to continue his good form and help his team secure more victories in the coming months.

Overall, Danny Parish's achievement is a testament to the importance of hard work and perseverance. He has shown that even after a difficult start, it's possible to bounce back and perform at the highest level. Congratulations to Danny Parish for being named National League Player of the Month for December.

Drew Welch Named National League Manager of the Month for December

Wealdstone manager Drew Welch has been named the National League Manager of the Month for December after a string of impressive performances that saw his team rise to the top of the league.

Wealdstone started the month in 7th place but quickly climbed up the table thanks to a series of impressive victories. Welch's tactical nous and ability to motivate his players were key factors in the team's success during this period.

Welch's management style has been instrumental in Wealdstone's success this season. He has created a positive and cohesive team culture that has helped his players to perform at their best. His tactical flexibility has also been crucial, allowing the team to adapt to different opponents and game situations.

Overall, Wealdstone's rise to the top of the league is a testament to Welch's leadership and the team's hard work and determination. The club's supporters will be delighted with their team's progress and will be hoping that they can maintain their form in the coming months.

Congratulations to Drew Welch for being named the National League Manager of the Month for December. His achievement is a reflection of the hard work and dedication he has put into his role and the positive impact he has had on his team.

Wealdstone Manager Drew Welch Named as Potential Candidate for AFC Wimbledon Job

Wealdstone FC manager Drew Welch has been named as a potential candidate for the vacant managerial position at AFC Wimbledon. The news comes after AFC Wimbledon president Joe Palmer fired manager David Dunn following a disappointing run of form in League Two.

The betting odds suggest that former Burton and AFC Wimbledon manager Glyn Hodges is the frontrunner for the job, with odds of 11-8. However, Welch is also in the running with odds of 13-2, alongside former Nottingham Forest manager Garry Monk who has odds of 4-1.

Welch, who was recently named the National League Manager of the Month for December, has been credited with leading Wealdstone FC to the top of the National League table. The team's impressive run of form has been a testament to Welch's tactical acumen and motivational skills.

When asked about the reports linking him to the AFC Wimbledon job, Welch declined to comment. However, it is clear that his success at Wealdstone has not gone unnoticed by other clubs.

For Wealdstone FC supporters, the news of Welch's potential departure will come as a blow. The team has enjoyed a remarkable season under his leadership and will be hoping that he stays to see the season through to its conclusion.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding Welch's future, the team remains focused on its upcoming fixtures. With a strong squad and the support of their loyal fans, Wealdstone will be looking to maintain their position at the top of the National League and secure promotion to League Two at the end of the season.

Whatever the future holds for Drew Welch, he has already established himself as one of the most promising young managers in English football. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors, whether that be at Wealdstone or elsewhere.

Stars of the Month

#1 ST Danny Parish -- 4+2 apps, 4 goals, 2.81 xG, 7.38 rating
#2 GK Jacob Russell -- 5 apps, 12 saves, 1 allowed, 3.88 xGA, 7.36 rating
#3 MF Jack Wells-Morrison -- 4 apps, 1 goal, 1 assist, 0.35 xG, 7.40 rating

[jasontoddwhitt]

It's been a crazy few days. The media is buzzing with speculation that I'm a potential candidate for the vacant managerial position at AFC Wimbledon. While it's flattering to be mentioned in connection with a job at a higher level, I want to make it clear that I have had zero contact with anyone from AFC Wimbledon.

The rumors started after the club's president fired their manager following a string of poor results. The betting odds suggest that I'm one of the top candidates for the job, alongside some big names like Glyn Hodges and Garry Monk. But the truth is, I haven't been approached by anyone from AFC Wimbledon, and I have no plans to leave Wealdstone anytime soon.

Of course, it's impossible to ignore the speculation entirely. It's always nice to be recognized for your hard work, and it's no secret that I have ambitions to manage at a higher level. But right now, my focus is on Wealdstone and helping this team achieve its goals.

We've had a fantastic season so far, and I'm proud of what we've achieved. Being named National League Manager of the Month for December was a great honor, and it's a testament to the hard work of everyone involved with the club. We're sitting at the top of the National League table. Well, until S****horpe won while we were playing in the FA Cup. Nevertheless, we're well-positioned to push for promotion to League Two.

Despite the media speculation, my focus remains on the upcoming fixtures and making sure we continue to play at our best. It's an exciting time for Wealdstone, and I'm thrilled to be a part of this team. Whatever the future holds, I'm grateful for the opportunity to manage this club, and I'm looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together.