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“So tonight we’re going to discuss something quite remarkable. We’re doing an in depth interview with him. He’s been quite a story in the lower leagues, but hasn’t really been picked up by the nation until now. Let’s welcome our special guest, please welcome Ian Lim to Football Focus”
“Thanks for having me, it’s a pleasure to be here Dan”
“So, today we’re here to discuss your incredible progress as a manager. You’re still a very young manager, only 23? Yet you managed to guide Bristol Rovers to two promotions in the past two years. You were unemployed before you got signed on as the Bristol Rovers manager. Tell me how did you even get the job as the Bristol Rover managers?”
“I just finished the National Level A Course in September, was actually looking for a coaching role at one of the bigger clubs to continue my learning and get more experience when I got a call from a friend saying Bristol Rovers were accepting applicants for their manager role. I thought why not give it a shot? Didn’t have anything to lose and here I am today”
“Let’s expand more on your first season. Bristol Rovers were sitting on 17th when you took over. What was the expectations for the club? What was it like getting so much responsibility at such a young age? The chairman has put a lot of faith in you in managing such a big club?”
“To be honest, I didn’t even think the interview went that well. I outline the way I like playing football, how I wanted to sign young players for the future and thought the club was too big for the conference. Luckily the chairman agreed with me”
“It sounds like you have a great relationship with the chairman. Could you expand on your start as a manger?”
“Stephen and I have a great friendship, it has definitely helped with my experience with this great club. Well I took over at the end of September, there were already a few players brought on loan by the previous manager which were for the season and they turned out to be quite key in my promotion. In terms of results, in my first 10 game we were unbeaten, winning 7 of them.
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It was so important to have that start. That really set the tone for the rest of the season. The lads really responded well to having such a young manager, having faith in me and trusting my judgement. I really couldn’t ask for a better group of players to start off my managerial career.
“It really was an amazing start for you. Considering the previous manager was sacked just after 9 games into the season. Were you worried that the chairman would have given you the sack without a good start?”
“I think those were under different circumstances. I had a contract till the end of the season and was confident I would see it out. After those 10 games, I believe we caught up to the rest of the teams hanging around the playoff spots. The club was only recently relegated into the conference the previous season, so it was only fair to expect us to go back up on the first try”
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“I see. Looking at this, showed you made 8 additional signings. What was your reasons behind all of this? Adding to what already was a big squad”
“Well Dan, I felt with those were necessary signings in helping the club to promotion and hopefully the future of the club. I felt confident after the start we had, we would be back in League Two and I wanted a squad that was ready for the challenge.”
“In the end, you were right. Bristol Rovers went on to go on a crazy run of form only losing 7 league games for the rest of the season. Allowing you to end the season in 2nd. It must have been quite the experience. With the league being as tight as it looked.”
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“I’ll tell you what Dan, you’re not wrong. We only manage to secure a play-off position in the second last game of the season. The whole league was very tight throughout the season and we were quite lucky to gain 2nd.”
“What was it like walking out to Wembley for the Playoff Final? You’re only eight months into your managerial career, and you walk out on that magnificent pitch. Thirty eight thousand fans in the stands, hoping their team to move on to League 2.”
“I couldn’t believe how far I had gone. To think I was considering coaching for a club but there I was leading out a team at Wembley. Honestly I couldn’t believe it, I’m just grateful the boys played well in the final and got us promoted. It’s still to date the only time I have managed at Wembley and will be one of the most unforgettable moments of my life."
“That’s wonderful, now don’t go anywhere when we come back we’ll discuss the madness of the second season for our young manager and what seems to be the beginning of a fairy-tale.”
“So tonight we’re going to discuss something quite remarkable. We’re doing an in depth interview with him. He’s been quite a story in the lower leagues, but hasn’t really been picked up by the nation until now. Let’s welcome our special guest, please welcome Ian Lim to Football Focus”
“Thanks for having me, it’s a pleasure to be here Dan”
“So, today we’re here to discuss your incredible progress as a manager. You’re still a very young manager, only 23? Yet you managed to guide Bristol Rovers to two promotions in the past two years. You were unemployed before you got signed on as the Bristol Rovers manager. Tell me how did you even get the job as the Bristol Rover managers?”
“I just finished the National Level A Course in September, was actually looking for a coaching role at one of the bigger clubs to continue my learning and get more experience when I got a call from a friend saying Bristol Rovers were accepting applicants for their manager role. I thought why not give it a shot? Didn’t have anything to lose and here I am today”
“Let’s expand more on your first season. Bristol Rovers were sitting on 17th when you took over. What was the expectations for the club? What was it like getting so much responsibility at such a young age? The chairman has put a lot of faith in you in managing such a big club?”
“To be honest, I didn’t even think the interview went that well. I outline the way I like playing football, how I wanted to sign young players for the future and thought the club was too big for the conference. Luckily the chairman agreed with me”
“It sounds like you have a great relationship with the chairman. Could you expand on your start as a manger?”
“Stephen and I have a great friendship, it has definitely helped with my experience with this great club. Well I took over at the end of September, there were already a few players brought on loan by the previous manager which were for the season and they turned out to be quite key in my promotion. In terms of results, in my first 10 game we were unbeaten, winning 7 of them.
View attachment 318894
It was so important to have that start. That really set the tone for the rest of the season. The lads really responded well to having such a young manager, having faith in me and trusting my judgement. I really couldn’t ask for a better group of players to start off my managerial career.
“It really was an amazing start for you. Considering the previous manager was sacked just after 9 games into the season. Were you worried that the chairman would have given you the sack without a good start?”
“I think those were under different circumstances. I had a contract till the end of the season and was confident I would see it out. After those 10 games, I believe we caught up to the rest of the teams hanging around the playoff spots. The club was only recently relegated into the conference the previous season, so it was only fair to expect us to go back up on the first try”
View attachment 318892
“I see. Looking at this, showed you made 8 additional signings. What was your reasons behind all of this? Adding to what already was a big squad”
“Well Dan, I felt with those were necessary signings in helping the club to promotion and hopefully the future of the club. I felt confident after the start we had, we would be back in League Two and I wanted a squad that was ready for the challenge.”
“In the end, you were right. Bristol Rovers went on to go on a crazy run of form only losing 7 league games for the rest of the season. Allowing you to end the season in 2nd. It must have been quite the experience. With the league being as tight as it looked.”
View attachment 318891View attachment 318889
“I’ll tell you what Dan, you’re not wrong. We only manage to secure a play-off position in the second last game of the season. The whole league was very tight throughout the season and we were quite lucky to gain 2nd.”
“What was it like walking out to Wembley for the Playoff Final? You’re only eight months into your managerial career, and you walk out on that magnificent pitch. Thirty eight thousand fans in the stands, hoping their team to move on to League 2.”
“I couldn’t believe how far I had gone. To think I was considering coaching for a club but there I was leading out a team at Wembley. Honestly I couldn’t believe it, I’m just grateful the boys played well in the final and got us promoted. It’s still to date the only time I have managed at Wembley and will be one of the most unforgettable moments of my life."
“That’s wonderful, now don’t go anywhere when we come back we’ll discuss the madness of the second season for our young manager and what seems to be the beginning of a fairy-tale.”