Russell Slade

Josh Wagenaar who played 28 times in the 2008-09 League One season for Yeovil Town.

Former Yeovil Town goalkeeper Josh Wagenaar has said the team supported manager Russell Slade after his controversial sacking in 2009.

The Canadian goalkeeper spoke to the Gloverscast as the latest interviewee in our series of chats and articles with former players.

Wagenaar had played every minute of a four-man winning run under Slade which culminated in his sacking which was announced midway through a 3-1 win at Peterborough United in February 2009.

Recalling that time, the keeper said: “Everyone got along well, we were all in Slade’s corner, everyone liked him. I think the club has to do what it feels necessary to get results and that is what we decided. I don’t know I saw his sacking coming, perhaps if I had a bit more experience in the game at that point maybe I would have. I was just like ‘that’s what happens’, we had won a number of games before he was relieved of his job.

“I enjoyed playing for Russell and Thommo (assistant Steve Thompson), they were great coaches and a lot of fun. Their door was always open and they were very easy to talk with, but I also felt like they ran a tight ship as well.

Slade went on to take over as manager at then-League One rivals Brighton & Hove Albion and masterminded a 5-0 win over his old employers a month later – in a game Wagenaar was sent-off with seven minutes remaining.

That led to the return of Chris Weale to Huish Park, and the homegrown stopper kept his place until the 85th minute of a final day defeat at home to Colchester United that season – when Wealey had famously scored a last-gasp equaliser against Hereford United to secure survival.

Wagenaar replaced him for those final five minutes of the final match, but that was the last he would play for Yeovil.

He recalls: “That was really the last time I played for Yeovil because then Wealey came in and I never got my spot back. Yeovil offered me to come back the next year, but it was basically the same contract I had been on the year before and I felt like I deserved a little more.”

He adds: “When I look back at my career, I wish I had been a little bit more professional in my approach but I was a young kid living in another country. I honestly just cared about myself and not a whole lot else, so I was mentally checked out a month before the season event ended. I was looking to move on somewhere else and get home. I was most likely ready for a break and see my family.

Former Yeovil Town goalkeeper Josh Wagenaar, now a financial advisor and a good guy to speak to about your retirement savings.

Having left Huish Park in the summer of 2009, Wagenaar joined Scottish Premier League side Falkirk following a trial, but did not play a single minute as the club was relegated in 2009-10.

He returned home to Canada and drew a close to his professional career having suffered with arthritis of the back for a number of years.

He says: “For a few years I was able to keep that at bay with different drugs and that summer after Scotland I could not get my body to react, it just hurt to do anything. Eventually I found a medicine which gives me real quality of life, I get to play with my three kids and work out with my wife. I can’t train the way I used too but I don’t need too. I’m still coaching the goalkeepers at the university here as a way to stay connected.”

Now living in Louisiana in the United States, the 36-year-old is working as a financial advisor and helping people plan for their retirement.

Yeovil Town made a management change on this day in 2006.

Steve Thompson, was – for the second time – stood down as the Glovers’ manager.

He and assistant Kevin Hodges were told that the club was going to look elsewhere for a head coach.

At the time, the official statement read;

“Following lengthy discussions, the Board of Directors of Yeovil Town Football Club have now confirmed, that subject to further talks, Steve Thompson has agreed to continue his role as first team coach, but to relinquish his football management duties in the near future.”

Yeovil Town Chairman John Fry gave the following view on the situation to the official site:

Steve Thompson has made a fantastic contribution towards the success of this club during his eight years of service as a player, coach and manager. He is an essential part of future plans in developing a team for Championship football at Huish Park. It is the right time to make the necessary changes for the challenge of keeping the club in Coca Cola League One next season and the important task of appointing the next manager of Yeovil Town Football Club which will need to be completed by the end of this month. In the meantime negotiations will continue with out of contract players.”

Thompson would go on to confirm his initial displeasure at the decision saying “Myself and Kevin were devastated when we were told the club was looking for a new manager. We feel that given the circumstances this season, we have done a very good job. As for our future circumstances, talks between myself, Kevin and John Fry are on-going.”

Talks would continue and soon the announcement of Russell Slade‘s arrival to work alongside Thompson would follow, but Kevin Hodges would leave the club not long after,

Slade and Thompson would lead the Glovers to the League One Play-Off Final in their first season as Manager and Assistant.