Woking Football Club's week has been defined by a home draw, ongoing interim leadership, and a significant new attacking signing. The National League side drew 1-1 with Southend United at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.
Joint interim managers Jake Hyde and Craig Ross remain in charge of first-team operations. This follows the mutual termination of Jermaine Defoe's contract in July, after just 116 days as manager. According to the Denbighshire Free Press, Hyde and Ross, who had a previous interim stint in March, are overseeing matters following Defoe's departure two weeks before the season began.
Director of Football Jody Brown expressed confidence in the duo in a club statement. "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 pair had earned 16 points from nine matches in their earlier spell but have seen Woking pick up four points from their first five outings of the 2026-27 campaign.
Woking played out a 1-1 draw at home against Southend United on Saturday. The match report from Southend United's official site confirmed the scoreline, though specific goal scorers and match details were not provided in the source. The result leaves Woking's early season form under review as they build on a 10th-place finish in the 2025 National League table, where they accrued 63 points from 46 games.
The team's defensive record last season saw them concede 54 goals while scoring 69, giving them a positive goal difference of 15.
The club has bolstered its attacking options with the signing of experienced forward John Marquis. The BBC reported that the 34-year-old has joined on a one-year contract after his deal at Shrewsbury Town expired. Marquis becomes Woking's 13th signing of the summer transfer window, bringing extensive Football League experience to the squad.
He scored 18 goals in 86 appearances across League One and League Two for Shrewsbury. Across a long career, Marquis has made over 500 EFL appearances and netted 171 goals for clubs including Millwall, Portsmouth, and Doncaster Rovers. His arrival adds proven quality to a forward line for a team that finished 45 points behind champions York City last term.
The signing of Marquis completes a busy summer of recruitment at the Laithwaite Community Stadium. With 13 new arrivals, the squad has undergone significant refreshment ahead of the new National League season. The interim management team of Hyde and Ross now has a deeper pool of players to select from as they aim to improve on the team's current standing.
Fans can see the full roster of players on our squad page. The club's final league position of 10th last season, with a recent form guide reading LWDWD, provides a platform they will look to build upon. John Marquis's one-year contract offers immediate offensive reinforcement for the challenges ahead.
