Neal Ardley leaves AFC Wimbledon by mutual consent after seven games without victory

Moving on: Ardley was the third long-serving manager in the Football League
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Jack Rosser @JackRosser_12 November 2018

Neal Ardley has left AFC Wimbledon by ‘mutual agreement’ after a run of seven League games without a win, the club have announced.

Ardley, 46, admitted he expected to be sacked if the Dons, who sit a point off the foot of League One, lost their FA Cup first round tie at Haringey Borough on Friday night. A last gasp 1-0 saw them into the hat for the second round, but the performance was not enough to extend his six-year stay at the helm.

The former midfielder, who made over 200 appearances for the original Wimbledon, was the third-longest serving manager in English professional football before his dismissal and, in his time at the club took them from the brink of dropping out of the Football League, into the League One via the play-offs and above fierce rivals MK Dons.

A club statement read: “We thank him for the massive role he has played for us over the last six years and wish him well in his future career.”

Chief executive Erik Samuelson added: “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.”

Assistant manager, Neil Cox, has also left the club while first team coach Simon Bassey has taken the post of interim manager.

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