GARY Waddock is back in football management as the new boss of Oxford United - to the delight of the man who replaced him in the Wanderers hotseat.
The former Blues boss was confirmed as the U's new manager on Saturday - a day after he had been at the Kassam Stadium on a scouting trip for MK Dons, where he had been Head of Coaching.
His first game in charge of Wanderers' near neighbours ended in a disappointing 3-0 defeat at the hands of Southend United, with the Shrimpers recording their first victory in 13 attempts.
But Gareth Ainsworth, who replaced Waddock in charge of Wanderers after his sacking in September 2012, said he was glad to see him back in the dugout as a club's number one.
He said: "I'm absolutely delighted to see Gary back in management. He's a fantastic bloke and I'm really pleased he's back.
"He was one of the first people who rang me when I first got the job. When Gary left he said, 'You'll be the next manager of the club, you'll do a great job'. When we stayed up last year he was one of the first ones on the phone to congratulate me - that's the measure of the man.
"I think he'll do well at Oxford. He's one of the real good guys, one of the ones you can trust in football. I would class him as a close friend first and then a colleague later."
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