New Stones Boss Will Get Bartlett's Full Support

In a shock announcement last night, Bartlett’s 22-years in charge of the Stones is now at an end.

The Vanarama National League South club and the veteran boss agree a change is needed in order for the west Londoners to progress.

Today came the news that assistant manager Scott McGleish and coaches Mickey Johnson, Steve Newing, and Jimmy Gray are all also departing.

Wealdstone chairman Peter Marsden said: “On behalf of the board I would like to thank Gordon Bartlett for his 22 years at the helm of Wealdstone Football Club in which he has guided the club from the 3rd division of the Isthmian League to play-off spot contenders in National League South.

“Often working in trying conditions which would have confounded lesser managers Gordon has been pivotal in the club re-establishing itself as a force in the Non-League game. He is quite simply a Wealdstone legend.

“Having worked closely with Gordon for this last 12 months I have come to regard him as a good friend and I have seen at first hand his encyclopaedic knowledge, breadth of contacts and above all else his love of the game. In many ways, what Gordon does not know about football is not worth knowing.

“Results drive almost everything that happens at a football club – the way we feel about ourselves and the way we are perceived by others. It drives our income streams and our ability to attract fresh investment.

“Gordon and I have talked several times about ”when the time was right’ his making the next stage of his Wealdstone journey. This is a multi-faceted role which includes looking for and developing young footballing talent, helping the club raise its profile locally and nationally and being an ambassador for the club.

"As the club continues to grow so the breadth of this role will grow too.

“While the new manager will be very much his own man with his own ideas he will know that in Gordon he has a trusted ally and a wealth of experience he can turn to. So, it is not goodbye but ‘rock on’ Gordon”.”

PHOTO BY ALAN PALMER