Jake Hyde and Craig Ross have been appointed joint interim managers of Woking Football Club. The move provides continuity after the departure of Jermaine Defoe, whose contract was mutually terminated in July.
Woking currently sit 20th in the National League, having taken just four points from their opening five matches of the 2026-27 season. Their record shows one win, one draw, and three losses, with a goal difference of minus five after scoring four and conceding nine. They are already nine points behind early leaders Boreham Wood.
Jake Hyde ended his 20-year professional playing career at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, his final club being Woking. The striker had a notable spell at Wrexham, signing from Halifax Town in July 2021 and memorably scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory over Eastleigh before leaving the Welsh club in the summer of 2023. His co-interim boss, Craig Ross, is the club's long-serving goalkeeper. The pair previously took temporary charge together back in March, guiding the team to 16 points from nine matches.
Director of Football Jody Brown expressed full confidence in the duo. "Craig and Jake have been an important part of this football club for a long time," Brown said. "They know the players and the environment exceptionally well."
The primary job for Hyde and Ross is to stabilise the team after a difficult start to the campaign. Their brief is to prepare the squad thoroughly for the challenges ahead, leveraging their deep existing knowledge of the group. Brown added that they will provide the leadership and continuity required, and backed them to have the supporters' full backing. The interim managers' familiarity is seen as a major asset during this period of transition.
The club's early-season struggles add urgency to the interim appointment. With only four points on the board, improving results is the immediate priority. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming matches, including the recent home game against Southend United, on our fixtures page. The full standings show the scale of the task, with Woking needing to climb the table quickly.
Jermaine Defoe's first managerial role began at Woking in March. Over a six-match spell in charge, he recorded two wins and one loss before the season concluded. His contract was then ended by mutual agreement in July, creating the vacancy that Hyde and Ross have now stepped into on a temporary basis. The club will now assess its options while the interim team works with the current squad.
The interim management team's first duty is to address the team's recent form of DLWLL and build momentum ahead of the next National League fixture.
