Defoe appointment 'big stuff', says Martin Tyler

Football commentator and lifelong Woking FC fan Martin Tyler says Jermain Defoe leading the side as a manager for the first time is "big stuff" for the club.

On Friday, the Surrey side drew 3-3 with Eastleigh in the National League in what was the former striker's first game as a permanent manager.

Tyler likened the appointment to when the club brought in former Nottingham Forest captain and European Cup winner John McGovern as a manager in the late 90s.

"But I think this is a bigger appointment, even higher than that, because of the publicity," he explained.

"On talkSport they had Thomas Tuchel talking about losing to Japan, followed by Jermain Defoe talking about coming in at Woking on the talkSport news. So it's big stuff."

Woking currently play in the National League, the fifth division in English football.

Tyler said: "He can leave a legacy here. The manager who takes Woking to the Football League, I will help build the statue, I promise you, because it's that important."

Snooker player Jimmy White, who considers Woking to be his second favourite team, said the appointment was "amazing".

"You bring a star like that to a football club, you're going to get new fans, and if Woking starts performing, which I'm sure they will do, I think it's going to get bigger and bigger," he said.

One fan said it was "probably the most excited I've ever been", while another said the club's Instagram followers had doubled since the appointment was announced on Sunday.

They added: "First of all, I slapped myself. I was like: 'This can't be real.' I thought: 'Surely not.' And then I slapped myself again. I thought: 'Hang on. Am I not dreaming?'"

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