Joy and despair: Mixed fortunes as ex-Portsmouth boss sacked and another returns to management
The former Blues boss oversaw seven first-team matches between them
It has been a week of hugely contrasting fortunes for two former Pompey bosses on the job front.
For while there’s disappointment for Simon Bassey, elsewhere in the National League there’s delight for Gary Waddock.
Bassey, who oversaw the Blues for three games as caretaker boss before John Mousinho’s appointment in January 2023, had been serving as assistant manager at Woking.
Working under Neal Ardley, they had steered the Cards within four points of the play-off spots by mid-December - only to slump to six defeats in nine matches.
That dreadful run of form has left them in 17th, just five points above the relegation zone, with the pair subsequently dismissed after 14-and-a-half months at the helm.
Ardley’s final match was Saturday’s 1-0 loss at National League North side Marine in the FA Trophy quarter-finals.
In the aftermath, he and Bassey were relieved of their duties, with Craig Ross, Jake Hyde and Dale Gorman taking interim charge of the team.
‘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.’
When head coach Danny Cowley was dismissed along with his brother Nicky in January 2023, first-team coach Bassey was asked to take over on a temporary basis.
His first match was the FA Cup third-round trip to Spurs, which ended in a 1-0 defeat, while there were two losses at Bolton - one in the EFL Trophy and one in League One.
Bassey left the Blues ahead of the Fratton Park visit of Exeter after three games at the helm, following Mousinho’s arrival.
Pompey caretaker boss in April 2015
Meanwhile, Waddock has been unveiled as Wealdstone’s new manager, succeeding Sam Cox at the National League club.
He stepped up from assistant manager to serve as Pompey caretaker boss when replacing Andy Awford in April 2015, overseeing four matches.
That spell included a 2-1 win at Mansfield in the penultimate game of the 2014-15 season as the Blues finished 16th in League Two - the lowest finish in their Football League history.
Following Paul Cook’s appointment in May 2015, Waddock departed Fratton Park and later managed Aldershot for three years, while had a caretaker spell at Southend.
Most recently, he had spent two-and-a-half years as assistant head coach to Mat Sadler at Walsall, who are presently 10th in League Two.
‘We're grateful to Walsall FC for working with us in regards to Gary's release, at what is a key time in the season for all teams in terms of retaining key staff.
‘We'll let Gary explain for himself in his first interview why he felt this role is right for him, but from the club's point of view we feel it's exactly what we need right now to gain the maximum return from our dedicated playing squad.’
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