Andy Scott: Aldershot boss backed by Tony Knights after FA Cup exit

Aldershot director Tony Knights says the future of manager Andy Scott should not be questioned despite their FA Cup exit at the hands of Shortwood United.

The Shots lost their fourth qualifying round replay 2-1 at home to the Woods, who are three divisions below them, on Tuesday evening.

Scott signed a new three-year deal with the Conference Premier side this month.

"We question what he did on Tuesday night but definitely not his future," Knights told BBC Surrey.

"Andy is a good communicator and he doesn't hide behind anything. He accepts any criticism that he gets."

Shortwood, who play in Division One South & West of the Southern League, earned a replay after a late equaliser in Saturday's initial tie in Gloucestershire.

Aldershot took an early lead in the replay at the Electrical Services Stadium on Tuesday but second-half goals from Duncan Culley and Adam Mann took Shortwood through to the first round proper for the first time in their history, setting up a home tie against League One side Port Vale.

The Shots subsequently missed out on £12,500 prize money and any future revenue from a potential Cup run.

"After all the hard work we have been doing this is a big knock-back for us," Knights said.

"We want gladiators out on the pitch and it wasn't the case. We had no gladiators and should have learnt our lesson from Saturday.

"I don't know if we underestimated the opposition but there are a lot of people disappointed in our football team.

"No disrespect to Shortwood, but Shortwood should not be coming to Aldershot and beating Aldershot Town Football Club.

"We are not the Manchester United of the Conference but we have professional football players that have full-time contracts and we train every day to beat teams at our level."

Knights also said criticism of Scott, who joined the Hampshire club in February but could not keep them in the Football League, on social media websites was undue.

"There is a lot more to Andy's contract than people are making out," Knights said.

"In pre-season he was extremely loyal to the football club and at the back end of last season he was extremely professional with some very diverse situations.

"Nobody was questioning him at the start of the season.

"Andy is not a greedy man and the contract fitted the needs of the football club more than they did with Andy."

Aldershot captain Craig Stanley has admitted they were second-best in both matches and their supporters deserved more.

"I'd like to apologise to the fans," Stanley said.

"The last two games haven't been good enough and there were a few strong words said in the dressing room.

"Our decision-making on the ball was poor and deep down they wanted it more than us and worked harder than us, which is a hard thing to take."