Wealdstone FC are searching for their first win of the National League season under manager Gary Waddock. The club's current league standing is 17th, with five points from five games and a recent form of WDLLD, as reported by Sutton United this week.
Gary Waddock was appointed in February, taking over from Sam Cox, and guided the Stones to a 15th-place finish last term. That marked the club's seventh successive season at Step One, their longest ever stint at this level and their longest in a single league since the 1950s. The current campaign has seen a slow start, with the team scoring six goals and conceding seven for a minus-one goal difference. They sit eight points behind early leaders Boreham Wood.
How has the squad changed this summer?
Wealdstone faced a significant rebuild after several key players departed. Last season's top scorer Micah Obiero, who netted 14 times, remains, but the attack lost important contributors. Sean Adarkwa, who scored seven goals, left for Tamworth, while Nathan Tshikuna, with eight goals, joined Woking. Deon Woodman also exited for Bromley.
The club needed to replace Sak Hassan, Enzio Boldewijn, Dom Hutchinson, Anthony Georgiou, Omar Mussa and Elijah Dixon-Bonner. In response, Waddock has brought in a host of new faces. Striker Luke Norris arrived from Boreham Wood and forward Admiral Muskwe signed from Morecambe. Olufela Olomola, who scored 11 goals across two previous stints with Wealdstone, is also back and expected to contribute.
Creativity in midfield has been addressed with the additions of Jayden Harris and Dan Chesters. Defensive reinforcements include Joe Newton, Kyle Smith, Aidan Francis-Clarke, Josh Mullins, Dylan Conroy and Aaron Henry. Aaron Henry could partner Dylan Kadji in central midfield. You can view the full updated roster on our squad page.
What is Gary Waddock's background?
Waddock returned to management at Wealdstone after a seven-year break. His playing career included 203 appearances for Queens Park Rangers between 1979 and 1987, featuring in the 1982 FA Cup final. He also played for Charleroi in Belgium, Millwall, and had spells with Swindon Town, Bristol Rovers and Luton Town. He earned 21 caps for the Republic of Ireland over a decade and was initially selected for the 1990 World Cup squad.
His managerial journey began at QPR, where he was part of Ian Holloway's coaching staff in 2006. He took caretaker charge and guided the club clear of relegation, earning the full-time role. He later managed Aldershot Town, winning the Conference League Cup and securing promotion with 101 points. He led Wycombe Wanderers to promotion to League One before a spell at Oxford United. "I'm not going to be the one to say we're going to be in the top half of the table, but we're going to be in the top half of the table," Waddock said recently.
Where must the team improve?
Defensive solidity is a clear area for improvement. Last season Wealdstone conceded 76 goals, the eighth weakest record in the division. The new defensive recruits will be tasked with tightening up at the back. Connor McAvoy has become captain after Jack Cook lost the armband. "I'm just delighted to be back at Wealdstone and to be able to play football again," McAvoy stated.
The team's current form and league position show there is work to do to climb the table. Fans can track the team's progress in the standings and review detailed stats as the season develops. The immediate focus is on converting draws into victories to move away from the lower mid-table zone.
Wealdstone's next opportunity to secure three points comes in their upcoming National League fixture, details of which are available on our fixtures schedule.
