Markymark1486
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It was hard, knowing that I was taking the last breath from one of my closest friends in football. I knew what was coming next, we both did. As we sat down in this elongated room, the boardroom, crisp magnolia ceiling and walls, venitian blinds all around, we knew very well the purpose of us being here today. Owen was going, having overseen a post relegation clearout, acquired his desired targets and vastly improved the surging wage bill, we both felt he had done enough to justify the faith both the Chairman and Owner had stowed in him. However, this all means nothing when several senior players go above your head to the top, facing a mutiny, they had no choice but to dispose of the Manager, this is the simpliest choice compared to losing prized assets and player morale.
I had a feeling that with no sizeable funds to talk about, certainly not enough to warrant a compensation package, Owen's replacement would have to be sought internally, and having been called to the meeting I hoped that this would be my appointment. I think Owen had the same thoughts too as he kept looking at me. My love and passion for football and Bolton Wanderers was evident for anyone who knew me to see. Indeed this meeting was brisk, both the Chairman and Owner thanked Owen for his work and after we shook hands he left, that's when they told me what I had wanted to hear, I was the new manager of Bolton Wanderers Football Club.
I knew there was so much to do, I sat down with the coaching staff, I decided I wasn't in a position to release all the staff from Owen's reign, they knew the players well and the players respected them. Too much change too soon can be a detriment to what you are trying to achieve.
We sat and looked at the current playing squad, this was a Championship squad at the best, it may be enough to get us out of this division but next year would be a struggle, so I had to think whether I just planned for this season and flood my squad with experienced pro's or look to the next five years and build a team of youth, but would I get that long?
Players like Lee Chung Yong, Wheater, Holden and Mark Davies will be the foundations of my rebuild at the Reebok. However the quality and depth was severely lacking in the squad, with no money to speak of, I would have to wheal and deal in the loan and free market to bolster my squad for what will be a gruelling 46 match marathon. Cup competitions would bare no significance this season, I was not interested in any more games, as promotion was priority otherwise this club that I love could slip into the wilderness of League football.
Owen had already used 2 of the 4 season long loan signing slots, with Jay Spearing from Liverpool and Benik Afobe from Arsenal.
I had a feeling that with no sizeable funds to talk about, certainly not enough to warrant a compensation package, Owen's replacement would have to be sought internally, and having been called to the meeting I hoped that this would be my appointment. I think Owen had the same thoughts too as he kept looking at me. My love and passion for football and Bolton Wanderers was evident for anyone who knew me to see. Indeed this meeting was brisk, both the Chairman and Owner thanked Owen for his work and after we shook hands he left, that's when they told me what I had wanted to hear, I was the new manager of Bolton Wanderers Football Club.
I knew there was so much to do, I sat down with the coaching staff, I decided I wasn't in a position to release all the staff from Owen's reign, they knew the players well and the players respected them. Too much change too soon can be a detriment to what you are trying to achieve.
We sat and looked at the current playing squad, this was a Championship squad at the best, it may be enough to get us out of this division but next year would be a struggle, so I had to think whether I just planned for this season and flood my squad with experienced pro's or look to the next five years and build a team of youth, but would I get that long?
Players like Lee Chung Yong, Wheater, Holden and Mark Davies will be the foundations of my rebuild at the Reebok. However the quality and depth was severely lacking in the squad, with no money to speak of, I would have to wheal and deal in the loan and free market to bolster my squad for what will be a gruelling 46 match marathon. Cup competitions would bare no significance this season, I was not interested in any more games, as promotion was priority otherwise this club that I love could slip into the wilderness of League football.
Owen had already used 2 of the 4 season long loan signing slots, with Jay Spearing from Liverpool and Benik Afobe from Arsenal.
