Bobby Wilkinson: A summary of his career at Weymouth

Wilkinson presided over plenty of ups and downs, particularly in his first season in charge, as he led the Terras to ‘The Great Escape’ in 2022/23.

His press conferences were also somewhat like a lottery.

One week, he might play a straight bat.

Others, he may come out swinging with his mind clearly whirring at the sort of high-octane, passionate frequency we have come to expect from the man himself.

READ MORE: Bobby Wilkinson makes 'mutual' exit at Weymouth

Trust is hugely important with Wilkinson. Without it, he would be ruthless and dismiss anyone he deemed out of sync with his ideals.

He left nothing on the table in his 91 games as Weymouth manager, this dream job of his that he made no secret of putting on a pedestal.

Bobby Wilkinson's career stats at Weymouth (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Wilkinson and his family would holiday in the town and the former Bracknell boss would openly discuss his desire to one day manage the club.

When he got the chance, he grasped it head on.

Rewinding to September 2022, a lesser manager would have surveyed the financial landscape at Weymouth and run a mile.

The Terras were thick in trouble with debt and working their way out of it, but Wilkinson jumped at the opportunity to succeed David Oldfield.

His decision was fraught with risk, given he now had to reshape an ailing squad without a win one month into the season.

But he delivered an FA Cup at Winchester in his first match and later collected his first three points in the league courtesy of a late victory at Slough.

The cup run would also breathe life into the league survival fight, too, as Weymouth reached the first round for first time in 15 years.

Not only should they have beaten League Two side AFC Wimbledon at home, they should have led at half-time in the replay, before the Dons’ quality ultimately guided them to a 3-1 victory.

With much-needed prize money banked and fans firmly on side, the positives were flowing at Weymouth again.

There would be plenty of downs amid the highs, though.

Wilkinson listed the 5-1 loss at Eastbourne and the 5-2 home drubbing by relegation rivals Hungerford, his former club, as low ebbs in the season.

The Hungerford match was also particularly poignant for him personally. His family was subjected to alleged abuse and he was vociferously booed at full-time.

Following that game, he gave what was unquestionably his bravest interviews when fronting up to the media directly.

That he would always speak to journalists, win or lose, was a distinguishing trait and a measure of the man’s professionalism.

It would have been easy for him to walk away following the Hungerford nightmare, but instead he picked himself and his players up.

The relegation picture crystallised into a straightforward equation in the coming weeks. Weymouth trailed the safe positions by seven points ahead of their final three games.

They beat Slough 2-0 and were five points adrift.

They beat Taunton 3-1 and then had destiny in their own hands.

Defeat Dover at the Crabble Stadium and safety was assured. Weymouth responded with a characterful and commanding 2-0 win, delighting the masses of travelling Terras fans.

‘The Great Escape’ had its newest chapter, set in Kent but made in Dorset.

Bobby Wilkinson, centre, celebrates after achieving safety against all odds last season (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Wilkinson had now earned the right to build his own squad and did so after losing around 50 goals and half as many assists as Ahkeem Rose, Brad Ash and Tom Blair all departed.

He brought back Brandon Goodship, Josh McQuoid and Calvin Brooks, plus Ben Thomson.

A far more rounded squad was taking shape and results were immediately improved, albeit lacking in style for some fans.

Matters came to a head in November when Weymouth were thrashed 5-1 by Bath City in a dismal display.

A minority of supporters made their feelings known at Farnborough, with some allegedly targeting Wilkinson’s family again.

The fallout from that incident still endures, with those involved dealt with harshly by the club, banning them for extended periods of time.

True to form, though, Wilkinson shrugged this off and responded by beating Dover on penalties in the FA Trophy before seeing off Truro 2-0.

Hovering in the bottom half, just above the relegation zone but armed with a big injection of points compared to the previous year, Weymouth’s form dipped again.

However, the introduction of centre-half Joe Cook and striker Harry Parsons on loan helped the Terras win four straight league games from January into February.

Suddenly, the Terras were peeking at the play-offs and were equidistant to the clutches of the bottom four.

Despite struggling against teams in the top eight for the remainder of his tenure, Wilkinson did claim an impressive 2-0 win at Aveley.

The 4-1 victory over Havant & Waterlooville, in what proved to be his final game, again bore all the hallmarks of Wilkinson’s regime.

Weymouth limped through the first hour and were lucky to be level at 1-1 before changes by Wilkinson altered the course of the game.

His introduction of Ezio Touray and Keelan O’Connell, just as it did in the dramatic 4-3 win over Hemel, directly impacted the game as both men scored late on.

Ezio Touray, second left, scored the final goal of the Bobby Wilkinson era (Image: MARK PROBIN)

Wilkinson was pleased as punch.

You would not have guessed this would be the final game of a man for whom his players were performing with such fight.

In his post-match interview, Wilkinson was beaming with confidence and swagger, rightly proud of his decision-making that had yielded another three points, surpassing last year’s total with seven games to spare.

His days were numbered, though. Just four days later, he was officially gone.

Wilkinson has a contract running until the end of the 2025/26 season and his ‘mutual’ departure suggests the finer details of that situation have been ironed out.

But having missed out on another two years of Wilkinson as manager, there is an immense sense of loss loitering around the stadium.

Here is a boss who galvanised the club, restored some feel-good factor and created history by returning the club to the FA Cup main draw.

We will never get to see what Wilkinson could have achieved after this sudden exit.

Almost every job he has overseen points to future success and, although progress has been steady at Weymouth, the signs are there that the Terras have a serious squad to work with.

Losing Wilkinson’s contacts book will also leave a gigantic hole in the club’s recruiting power.

Although, with 50 points already in the bag and the player registration deadline imminent, there will be little panic about that long-term, especially when his successor is appointed.

The big question is why has he left so abruptly?

Weymouth are the only ones with the answer to that question and, given the straight bat shown in their club statements, we are unlikely to know the full picture any time soon.

The timing of the news, one day before the AGM, two days before Bath City away and five before the massive derby with Yeovil, is also uncomfortable for the Terras.

Interim boss Jason Matthews will lead Weymouth at Bath, but could a new manager be appointed before Yeovil?

READ MORE: Jason Matthews named Weymouth interim boss

Will there be a glorious return for Mark Molesley, or will Gary Johnson drop his armour and take a part-time position with a sizeable pay cut?

Steve Tully, who took the Poole job earlier this week, also cannot be ruled out having made no secret of his desire to one day manage Weymouth.

Wilkinson’s exit may generate more questions than answers, but one thing is for certain. He restored hope to Weymouth’s faithful.

It might have been a rollercoaster but it is the sort of ride you find strangely addictive. There was never a dull day with Wilkinson at the helm.

You would click your safety belt into place and just go on the journey with him, complete with his mind speeding around at 100mph.

He might have divided opinion.

He might have contradicted himself at times, delivered monologues, his mind racing with thoughts and opinions.

He might have been hugely demanding of the club.

But he was good value for the ride and it is a shame to have ended in this fashion.