28 Facts About Neal Ardley

1. Neal Ardley took the Dons from non-league all the way up to League One, and will be hoping to steer the Magpies comfortably away from the relegation zone this season.

2. Neal Ardley was a loyal servant to the London outfit during his playing days, spending more than a decade at their then-Selhurst Park home before rounding off his career with spells at Watford, Cardiff and Millwall.

3. Neal Ardley recently left AFC Wimbledon, where he spent more than six years in charge.

4. Neal Ardley expected to be named new Notts County boss before Morecambe game.

5. Neal Ardley was a wide midfielder during Wimbledon's successful Premier League years under Joe Kinnear in the late 1990s, but hung around long enough for the darkest days of all when the club was given permission, in May 2002, to relocate to Milton Keynes.

6. Neal Ardley is expected to be confirmed as the new manager of Notts County before the weekend, according to Sky sources.

7. Neal Ardley will be assisted at Meadow Lane by Neil Cox.

8. Neal Ardley spent six years as AFC Wimbledon manager and was sacked a day before Harry Kewell was removed as County boss.

9. Neal Ardley is the third manager at Meadow Lane this campaign after Kevin Nolan began the season at the helm, before Kewell spent 10 weeks in charge.

10. Neal Ardley takes over with Notts 23rd in League Two and without a victory in six league games, but the club have not confirmed the length of his contract.

11. Neal Ardley takes over Notts with the club in the League Two relegation zone and second from bottom of the table.

12. Neal Ardley has had spells at Watford, Cardiff City and Millwall, before calling time on his playing career in 2007.

13. Neal Ardley is currently abroad with his family, but he will be back in the UK next week after cutting his holiday short.

14. Neal Ardley says Notts County are one of a limited number of clubs who could tempt him back into management so swiftly after his departure from AFC Wimbledon.

15. Neal Ardley says Notts County one of a small number of clubs who could tempt back into management so quickly.

16. On his arrival, Neal Ardley said "that the chance to manage Notts County is one I couldn't let pass.

17. Neal Ardley was appointed as manager of Notts County on 23 November 2018, assisted by Neil Cox, with whom he worked with at AFC Wimbledon.

18. Neal Ardley had more than six years in charge of the Dons.

19. Neal Ardley managed an overhaul of the Dons first team throughout the 2018 summer, as a number of players left the club.

20. As the season began, Neal Ardley put faith in his summer signings with James Shea replacing last seasons number one Ross Worner.

21. On 2 December 2012, Neal Ardley managed AFC Wimbledon in their first ever meeting with MK Dons, the football club formed via his former side Wimbledon's relocation to Milton Keynes.

22. Neal Ardley was appointed as manager of Football League Two side AFC Wimbledon on 10 October 2012, with former Watford teammate Neil Cox being named as assistant manager on the same day.

23. Neal Ardley had started preparing for a manager's role at the early age of 24, when he took his first coaching badges before completing his training for the UEFA Pro coaching qualification in 2010.

24. Neal Ardley announced his retirement from professional football on 30 August 2007 after a series of injuries.

25. Neal Ardley joined Cardiff City in March 2005, a day before the sacking of Watford manager Ray Lewington.

26. Neal Ardley played for the Hornets for three seasons, making appearances an FA Cup semi final in 2003 and a League Cup semi-final in 2005.

27. On the same day, Neal Ardley announced that he would return to former club Cardiff City having been appointed manager of the Cardiff City Youth Academy.

28. Neal Ardley announced his retirement from professional football on 30 August 2007 after suffering a series of injuries.