Ex-QPR Nikki Bull Leaving Aldershot

[QPR Report]

Sky Sports - Shots confirm Bull exit
Long-serving keeper asks to leave

Aldershot Town have revealed long-serving goalkeeper Nikki Bull is to leave the club at the end of the month.
Bull has been an integral member of the Aldershot team since joining the club after being released by Queens Park Rangers in 2002.

He is second on the Shots' all-time appearance list, has been named Player of the Year on multiple occasions and was a key figure in securing promotion to the Football League last year.

However, with 12 months remaining on his contract, the keeper has asked to leave and will be moving on before the start of the new League Two season.

"I regret to inform you that Nikki Bull requested a meeting with me and (manager) Gary (Waddock) yesterday, Saturday 18th July 2009," Shots chairman John McGinty told the club's official website.

"As a result of his request, a settlement was agreed by both parties and he will leave the club on the last day of July.

"The meeting was amicable and friendly and we wish Nikki well in his future.

"Nikki has served ATFC faithfully since his arrival in the summer of 2002 and, in his seven years of service to the club, he has made 313 appearances. His commitment is fully appreciated by the club and I am sure that we all echo these good wishes."

www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11750_5444298,00.html

[QPR Report]

Aldershot Official Site

Message From The Chairman

Chairman John McGinty announces the departure of goalkeeper Nikki Bull. This announcement was issued exclusively to subscribers of The Shots Online SMS Text Messaging service

"I regret to inform you that Nikki Bull requested a meeting with me and Gary yesterday, Saturday 18th July 2009.

As a result of his request, a settlement was agreed by both parties and he will leave the club on the last day of July.

The meeting was amicable and friendly and we wish Nikki well in his future,

Nikki has served ATFC faithfully since his arrival in the summer of 2002 and, in his seven years of service to the club, he has made 313 appearances. His commitment is fully appreciated by the Club and I am sure that we all echo these good wishes."

Good luck to you Nikki.

John J McGinty
Chairman
www.theshots.co.uk/NewsPage.ink?nid=31379


Aldershot Official Site
Bully Departs the EBB Stadium

Long-serving fan favourite Nikki Bull has left Aldershot Town after just over seven years service.

A reflection of Nikki Bull's outstanding service to Aldershot Town Football Club

Nikki began as trainee at Queen's Park Rangers, signing full pro forms at Loftus Road in July 1999. Although he was the substitute keeper for the first team on several occasions, he never made an appearance.


He spent the last two months of the 2001-02 season on loan at Conference outfit Hayes, who were manged by future Shots boss Terry Brown, but his efforts could not prevent the Middlesex club being relegated. He was released by QPR that summer and was offered the chance to return to Church Road on a permanent basis, but opted to sign for Aldershot Town instead.


His performances in his first season at the Rec earned him international recognition and he made his England National Game XI debut as a substitute against Belgium in February 2003, thus becoming the first-ever Shots player to win international honours. That season he also became the only Shots keeper to score a goal, doing so in a memorable 6-2 victory against Hendon in the final home game of the season. Nikki's season was then rounded off nicely by him winning the 'Player of the Year' award.


The following season, he played in the club's first-ever Conference game against Accrington Stanley and was a member of the side that lost to Hednesford Town in the FA Trophy semi-finals. He was also a member of the side that lost the 2004 Conference play-off final to Shrewsbury Town and that was beaten on penalties by Carlisle United in the semi-finals the following season. Nikki was part of the England National Game XI squad that won the Four Nations Tournament in 2005 and he won the 'Player of the Year' award at the Rec (for the second time) in 2006.


During the 2006-07 season, he played in the side that reached the FA Cup third round where they lost to Blackpool. His importance to the side is illustrated by the fact that he was an ever-present in the league in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07. The amount of times that Nikki's performances have saved the Shots points is incalculable and that level of consistency fuelled countless rumours that he would leave the Rec, but he resisted the temptation and stayed at the Rec.


That decision turned out to be the right one as he had a fantastic 2007-08 season during which he helped the club reach the FA Trophy semi-finals before bowing out to Ebbsfleet United. More importantly, he was a major factor in winning the Conference Premier title to earn promotion into the Football League. His season was nicely rounded-off by him becoming the first-ever Shots player to win the 'Player of the Year' award three times, which is a fitting testimony to his popularity amongst the Rec faithful. A double accolade at the National Game Awards followed shortly after the season's end as he was crowned the 'Non-League Goalkeeper of the Year' and 'Non-League Player of the Year'.


Following protracted negotiations and an apparent stalemate, Nikki signed a new two-year contract at the end of May 2008. This was followed shortly after by him being named in the 'Conference Premier Team of the Year', being voted 'Goalkeeper of the Year' at the league's annual awards ceremony and the Blue Square website users voting him their 'Player of the Year'.


Club and player made their Football League debuts against Accrington Stanley on the opening day of the 2008-09 season and, at the end of the year, Nikki was named in The Times' 'Top 50 Footballers of 2008'. He made his 300th appearance for the club in the FA Cup second round tie at Millwall in November and, having played 313 times for the club, finished the season having claimed second place in the Shots' all-time appearance list. In addition to all of his honours with Aldershot, Nikki also holds the club record of 175 consecutive league appearances.

www.theshots.co.uk/NewsPage.ink?nid=31378

[QPR Report]

And Yeovil interested

BBC - Yeovil keep tabs on keeper Bull

Yeovil manager Terry Skiverton said he will monitor Nikki Bull's availability after it was confirmed the goalkeeper will be leaving Aldershot.

The 27-year-old will leave the League Two side at the end of the month.

"He is someone that interests me. He's a good goalkeeper at a good age and he's got great league experience," Skiverton told BBC Somerset.

Yeovil plan to offer Richard Martin a deal after the former Manchester City keeper impressed on trial.

The 21-year-old played in both of Yeovil's matches on the club's pre-season tour in North Devon, and Skiverton hopes to have agreed a deal by the end of the week.

"He's going to be good for the future, and he's had a great upbringing at Manchester City. I am looking at him being the number two.

"I've been really impressed with what he's done so far. He's an excellent shot-stopper but there's still a couple of areas he's got to work on in his game.

"For us it's very much a development contract and he's someone I'd be looking at getting into the team in the future."

He's a good goalkeeper at a good age and he's got great league experience

Yeovil boss Terry Skiverton
Yeovil have released another keeper, Arran Lee-Barrett, and defender Niall McArdle after trials.

But former Aston Villa striker Sam Williams looks set for an extended stay at Huish Park. The 22-year-old scored against Grimsby on Friday night.

"He's a young lad with a lot to work on but he's done well so far. We don't want it to be a flash in the pan so I want to see him over a week or two," added Skiverton.

"I know his agent well so if there would be a chance of doing something I wouldn't see a problem."

news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/y/yeovil/8159821.stm

[QPR Report]

And more

Hampshire News and Mail

Bull scotches rumours
By Charlie Oliver
July 21, 2009


NIKKI Bull has quashed - in no uncertain terms - rumours that he does not intend to carry on playing in the Football League.

Aldershot Town announced in a brief statement on Sunday night that Bull, the club's long-serving goalkeeper and one of the heroes of last year's return to the Football League, would be leaving the club at the end of the month, after a settlement was reached to end his contract a year early.

The exact reasons behind Bull's departure are unclear - and Bull told Gethampshire that he did not wish to comment on them, given that he is contracted to the club for another ten days - but rumours soon spread that Bull was possibly walking away from professional football.

Some said Bull was leaving to pursue interests out of football, or to play the game part-time - with AFC Wimbledon a possible destination - or even to become a house husband.

But Bull has made it clear that all those rumours are, well, a load of old bull.

"I am as hungry to play at the highest level as I have ever been," said Bull on Tuesday. "I am a 27-year-old goalkeeper, getting towards my peak and I hopefully have many years left in the game, at a high level, as a professional.

"There is absolutely no chance whatsoever of me going part-time. I have no interest in that at all. Yes, I do have interests outside of football but they are for pursuing later, possibly not for another ten years or so, who knows.

"Also, I am fully fit and would have been back in full training this week, if I was still part of the Aldershot squad," added Bull, who was troubled last season by a heel injury.

Bull's comments fuel speculation linking him to League One side Yeovil Town. The Somerset side's manager, Terry Skiverton, said today that Bull was a player he was interested in.

"It is nice to hear a club expressing specific interest in me but I haven't spoken to any clubs yet," said Bull.

But the message to clubs appears to be: if you want me, come and get me.

"I am waiting for the phone to ring. Yes, I am taking a risk but, while still aged just 27, I have more than 300 first-team games to my name, at a good level. Not many goalkeepers of my age can say that and I hope Football League clubs will be interested in me.

"But right now I am just drawing breath. Leaving Aldershot all happened very quickly," said Bull.

"All I would like to add for now is a thank you to the fans for all the support they have given me at Aldershot.

"And that the club is very fortunate to have a manager like Gary Waddock in charge."

Waddock himself thanked Bull wholeheartedly yesterday for his time at the club but said he had no further comment to make. Nor have the club said anything more on the matter; while the reasons behind Bull's sudden departure remain opaque, finances are most likely dictating the state of play.

Clearly, if Bull is now snapped up by another Football League club, Aldershot will have missed out on the chance of commanding a fee for his services.

On the other hand, the cancellation of Bull's contract will have freed up funds more quickly than any potential transfer fee might have done. If Gary Waddock wants to make an immediate move for triallists, such as Ben Herd, John Halls and Adam Hinshelwood, then Bull's sudden departure may be key to him doing that.

On the evidence of Saturday's draw with Brentford, all three of those players would improve the quality of Waddock's squad and it is likely that Aldershot are not the only club interested in them; The Shots may need to move fast, if they want to offer them a contract.

Of course, Waddock will surely need another goalkeeper in his squad, too, to compete with Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz.

As for Bull, if everything goes according to plan, he too will soon become a new member of a squad.

So, while Bull is not expected to make a farewell appearance for The Shots in Wednesday's friendly against a Tottenham XI, the possibility of him playing again at the Rec - in another side's shirt - is one that Aldershot fans may have to contemplate.


www.gethampshire.co.uk/sport/aldershottownfc/s/2054499_bull_scotches_rumours