By Pete Oliver

Waddock is happy with the progress Aldershot are making

Aldershot boss Gary Waddock is revelling in his second coming as a manager as he leads the Shots' assault on promotion.

He was appointed by the Blue Square Premier club in the summer following a difficult spell as manager at QPR.

The former Hoops' midfielder took over at Loftus Road following Ian Holloway's controversial departure, initially on gardening leave, in February 2006.

Waddock, who played over 200 games for QPR before returning to climb the coaching ranks, was then given the job on a 'permanent' basis before being sacked just a handful of games into last season.

"It was a very difficult period for me, and for anybody out of work, not to be able to go in and get on the training ground," Waddock told BBC Sport.

The 45-year-old now looks back on his time as the R's boss as "an opportunity for me. It was good experience and I learned a lot," he said.

And that experience is paying off at Aldershot where he was recruited to restore some momentum to a club that had seen its spectacular rise tail off over the past couple of years and focus on youth development.

Everybody has been right behind me Gary Waddock

"I have come in and myself and Martin Kuhl want to take the club forward and at the moment that's happening," Waddock added.

"The players we have brought in and those already at the club have got an ambition to push forward with their careers also.

"Terry Brown did an extremely good job and we are looking to take that one and push the club forward.

"I am thoroughly enjoying it. Everybody has been right behind me and we will just keep working hard to see where it gets us."

At the moment, Waddock's work has got Aldershot into the thick of the promotion race, just a point behind leaders Torquay United with more than a quarter of the league season gone.

Seven wins in their last eight games is testimony to Waddock's organisational skills and his summer recruitment policy which looked low key but has produced impressive results.

On-loan Reading teenager Scott Davies has scored six times from midfield, ex-West Brom forward Rob Elvins has scored his first senior goals and midfielder Lewis Chalmers has built on the promise he showed with Altrincham.

Our away form has been extremely good and at home we are picking up points Gary Waddock

"We changed it round a bit, brought some younger players into the club and we wanted to develop the team and the club," Waddock said.

"They are still getting to know each other but at the same time we are getting results. We are developing together as a group.

"The players worked extremely hard in pre-season training and they are getting their rewards."

Early points on the board are vital for any new regime and Waddock has welcomed an average of comfortably better than two a game thanks to this recent winning run.

"It's nice because it gives players confidence and belief, especially young players.

"Our away form has been extremely good and at home we are picking up points and putting in some good performances," he said.

But with over 500 career games behind him, including spells with Luton and Millwall, Waddock will not fall into the trap of 'job done'.

We are developing together as a group Gary Waddock

The former Republic of Ireland international has been impressed with the standard of the league and expects fierce competition for the top five places.

"It's a difficult division. There are a lot of good sides in there and some very talented players," Waddock added.

"There may be eight or ten teams which will be there or thereabouts and it depends on a bit of luck and a run of form and games to determine where you will end up at the end.

"We are where we want to be, in and around the pack. But that's all very well at the moment, we want to be there in April to May time.