Recent content by Sly Old Fox

Chapter 47 – Escape From Annan? May/June/July ‘23 Red Hot Currie pips Mooney to player of the year in League 2 for the 2nd year running. Such a limited player, but he just wins so many headers. They may want to rename this award to, tallest striker of the year. I’ve merged three months for...

Chapter 46 – It’s Definitely Worth Forwarding This! April ‘23 If my maths is correct (doubtful) 2 wins in the next 2 fixtures will tie up the title. Our next two are Brechin away (fat chance) and Montrose at home (more likely). Brechin (3rd) are still using that weird 5-2-3 formation, so I...

Chapter 45 – Murmurs of Discontent March ‘23 We kick off at home to Stranraer (4th), who I notice we have a very favourable record against (since 2020 we’ve played 11, won 7 and drawn 3). It’s a strangely subdued performance and we’re fortunate to gain a draw after falling behind and...

Chapter 44 – Keeping It Simple February ‘23 My aim this month is to keep the unbeaten league streak alive and start recording some more clean sheets, which seem to have deserted us lately. The first game sees a visit from 5th placed Brechin City. ‘Slams team’ is correct. It’s been a...

Chapter 43 – Textbook Stuff January ‘23 We need to avoid defeat once more to set the all-time record for Annan. We’re at home to Stenhousemuir (6th) and are unbeaten against them in 4 games. One more please. Stenny were not in the mood to make it easy, and the first half could have really...

Chapter 42 – The Trial December ‘22 We have an intimidating 6 games to play this month, finishing up against Alloa in the Cup. If we can get through this we should be set up nicely for the rest of the season. First up a trip to Brechin (5th). Even giving away penalties can’t stop us from...

Chapter 41 – How Clean Are Your Sheets? November ‘22 I have now been the manager of Annan Athletic for more than 800 days. It was not supposed to be like this. I try to gee myself up with the thought that Sutton Chairman Leon Stewart might just be weird enough to give me a job and that job may...

Chapter 40 – We’re Glad You’ve Come Along October ‘22 The last time I targeted maximum points for the month it worked out beautifully. Therefore: This month I am targeting maximum points! We have 4 games to play, the first the most winnable of the bunch at home to bottom club (they always seem...

Chapter 39 – Surrounded By Morons September ‘22 It’s the usual one-two in the awards for the month as Currie gets Young Player of the Month and I get Manager of the Month. It’s frankly an insult that none of these awards get me any closer to a job interview. I’m still applying for everything...

@MidKnightDreary Sold! All suggestions gratefully received. Chapter 38 – McRobbed August ‘22 A mixed month gets off to a good start with a 2 – 1 win at home to Stenhousemuir with a brace from Red Hot Currie – nice to see his form carrying over into the new campaign. I give some new signings a...

@MidKnightDreary It's a slow, gradual kind of brutality, like a chokehold. And thanks, the luck will definitely be required. Chapter 37 – Hello Jamie Fullarton June/July ‘22 A positive start to the off-season as Championship side Ayr invite me up for a job interview. It seems to go fairly...

Chapter 36 – Play-Offs Again, Sam May ‘22 We’ve only 3 days between the Stirling game and our first leg of the play-offs against Brechin. Aware of the morale drop in the squad after going so close only to balls it up again I hold a team meeting to try and gee them up. I tell the players things...

Chapter 35 – The Race Is On April ‘22 A busy and potentially dramatic month ahead with 5 games to play. If we can manage another clean sweep (very unlikely) that should be enough to win the league. Our first game is away to East Fife (4th). East Fife bludgeoned for five! Another Mooney...

Chapter 34 – Operation Maximum Points March ‘22 This will be a season defining month for the club. Some would argue the season has already been defined and it would be hard to disagree. However, we have three winnable games before a real thigh-rubber for the last game of the month: away to...

Chapter 33 – Broken Records February ‘22 Centre back Bradley and striker Northcott both come to complain about the fact they didn’t get a loan move in the window. I literally offered them out at no cost and never received a flicker of interest. Unable to accept that depressing reality they...