Paul Williams leaves Eastleigh FC
By Wendy Gee - 
EX-SAINT Paul Williams has stepped down as assistant manager of Blue Square Bet South side Eastleigh – just three weeks after accepting the post.
The former Southampton, Coventry and Derby defender is heading to the north of the county to take over as a head of youth at npower League Two outfit Aldershot Town.
He replaces Tim Coe, who is leaving the Shots after three seasons at the Recreation Ground.
Spitfires boss Ian Baird explained: “Willo applied for the Aldershot job a month ago, but they had interviewed various people and he didn’t think he would get it.
“But he got a call from Nicky Banger (Aldershot’s corporate sales manager) on Friday asking him to go back for another interview and he rang on Sunday to tell me he’d got the job.
“Me and Willo have not fallen out over it.
“I told him to take the Aldershot job and go and further his coaching career.
“It’s a full-time post as well and he said he can’t believe how lucky he’s been.”
Bassett-based Williams, 40, is no stranger to Aldershot having had a brief stay there as assistant to caretaker boss and former Saints teammate Jason Dodd in 2009.
Since then he has been working at the Saints Academy while completing his coach licences.
His sudden departure from Eastleigh comes as another blow for Baird who lost his trusty right-hand man Matt Gray in mid-May.
“I took a while to choose Matt’s successor and I believed Willo was the right person,” said Baird.
“But I totally understand where he is and what he’s doing and I wish him well at Aldershot.”
Although Baird is currently on a summer break, he is already trying to sort out a replacement.
Williams had been due to oversee Eastleigh’s friendly against the Falkland Islands at the BTC Sports Ground in Stoneham Lane tomorrow afternoon.
But that game is now off because the Falklanders, who are due to compete in the NatWest Island Games on the Isle of Wight next week (June 25-July 1), are still stuck at home.
They have been unable to leave the South Atlantic due to an ash cloud from a volcano in Chile.
The match may be arranged later in the week if the team are able to travel.
The former Southampton, Coventry and Derby defender is heading to the north of the county to take over as a head of youth at npower League Two outfit Aldershot Town.
He replaces Tim Coe, who is leaving the Shots after three seasons at the Recreation Ground.
Spitfires boss Ian Baird explained: “Willo applied for the Aldershot job a month ago, but they had interviewed various people and he didn’t think he would get it.
“But he got a call from Nicky Banger (Aldershot’s corporate sales manager) on Friday asking him to go back for another interview and he rang on Sunday to tell me he’d got the job.
“Me and Willo have not fallen out over it.
“I told him to take the Aldershot job and go and further his coaching career.
“It’s a full-time post as well and he said he can’t believe how lucky he’s been.”
Bassett-based Williams, 40, is no stranger to Aldershot having had a brief stay there as assistant to caretaker boss and former Saints teammate Jason Dodd in 2009.
Since then he has been working at the Saints Academy while completing his coach licences.
His sudden departure from Eastleigh comes as another blow for Baird who lost his trusty right-hand man Matt Gray in mid-May.
“I took a while to choose Matt’s successor and I believed Willo was the right person,” said Baird.
“But I totally understand where he is and what he’s doing and I wish him well at Aldershot.”
Although Baird is currently on a summer break, he is already trying to sort out a replacement.
Williams had been due to oversee Eastleigh’s friendly against the Falkland Islands at the BTC Sports Ground in Stoneham Lane tomorrow afternoon.
But that game is now off because the Falklanders, who are due to compete in the NatWest Island Games on the Isle of Wight next week (June 25-July 1), are still stuck at home.
They have been unable to leave the South Atlantic due to an ash cloud from a volcano in Chile.
The match may be arranged later in the week if the team are able to travel.
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