The weeks following our relegation from Npower League 2, I still felt very deflated. I thought I had brought in players that could keep the club in the division. Maybe, I had but I had got the tactics all wrong? My head was full of self doubt. Maybe I wasn't cut out for management. I shook my head. If that was the case, I wouldn't have guided the club to the Npower League 1 title. Maybe, it was just one of the cases when nothing would come right and we'd just be dam unlucky. After all, we also had the added pressure of being financially unstable.
The talk of possible replacements for me continued endlessly, and it was getting me down. I wished to god it would stop-it does nothing for a managers confidence. But that's what happens. When you have a successful previous season, and then totally screw up the following season by getting relegated, it's natural for people to speculate. It's what happens in football. I now had a lot of thinking of to do. Way I felt I didn't deserve to be here. But ultimately, it was down to the board to make the final decision. But from what I had been hearing through the grapevine, it was looking very ominous indeed. So I was preparing for the worst. It would be decided next day.
I sat in the boardroom, and I was handed a cup of coffee. The chairman lent back in his chair, and exhaled a deep breath, rubbing his forehead and looked grim.
"Andrew, what the **** happened this season?" He asked. It was a fair question. "You won the title the previous season, guided the club onto an unbeaten run....it was a fantastic job. But this season....well, I think you know just how terrible it was. You brought in players who are of very good quality, changed things around and were basically, absolutely awful." He was correct.
"I genuinenly do not know where it went wrong." I answered honestly. "Before the season kicked off, I was very optomistic, I thought we were going to have a very good season. I picked the best formation, the best players....maybe it was the tactics. We also had bad luck. A lot of unexpected things happened to us this season-and to other clubs." There was a quiet pause.
"So maybe you don't know how to pick the right tactics needed for the club then?" That comment stung. But maybe he was right. He got up from his chair and walked to a window. The quite pause was unbearable. "It's not just relegation that's destroying things. Our debt has increased, revenue fell due to falling attendances, fans are now calling for your head. You can see why can't you? And the board are deeply upset too, especially with the manner of some of the losses-mainly our rivals. Games we should have won." I looked at the floor. I knew exactly what was coming, and already had a statement for the press developing. They'd be circling like the vultures that they are.
The chairman presented a piece of paper directly in front of me on the table. I frowned and looked closer. What the-
"This....is a new contract offer? Two years?" I was flumuxed. I get the club relegated......and get offered a two year deal. The chairman nodded.
"It's a two deal, on £1,000 per week. However, you will need to reduced the wage bill by £3,000. There will be no money for transfers. And we expect the club, to win the NPower League 2 title. Think you can do it?" There was yet another long pause. They wanted me, to win the title, after releasing yet more players, with again no money to bring in players, with increasing debt? My head was swimming. I looked at him.
"Can...I think things over for a week? This is totally unexpected. And without doubt, it's going to be a major challenge." The chairman nodded.
"A challenge we think you can ahchieve. I'll give you a week then to decide then."
The talk of possible replacements for me continued endlessly, and it was getting me down. I wished to god it would stop-it does nothing for a managers confidence. But that's what happens. When you have a successful previous season, and then totally screw up the following season by getting relegated, it's natural for people to speculate. It's what happens in football. I now had a lot of thinking of to do. Way I felt I didn't deserve to be here. But ultimately, it was down to the board to make the final decision. But from what I had been hearing through the grapevine, it was looking very ominous indeed. So I was preparing for the worst. It would be decided next day.
I sat in the boardroom, and I was handed a cup of coffee. The chairman lent back in his chair, and exhaled a deep breath, rubbing his forehead and looked grim.
"Andrew, what the **** happened this season?" He asked. It was a fair question. "You won the title the previous season, guided the club onto an unbeaten run....it was a fantastic job. But this season....well, I think you know just how terrible it was. You brought in players who are of very good quality, changed things around and were basically, absolutely awful." He was correct.
"I genuinenly do not know where it went wrong." I answered honestly. "Before the season kicked off, I was very optomistic, I thought we were going to have a very good season. I picked the best formation, the best players....maybe it was the tactics. We also had bad luck. A lot of unexpected things happened to us this season-and to other clubs." There was a quiet pause.
"So maybe you don't know how to pick the right tactics needed for the club then?" That comment stung. But maybe he was right. He got up from his chair and walked to a window. The quite pause was unbearable. "It's not just relegation that's destroying things. Our debt has increased, revenue fell due to falling attendances, fans are now calling for your head. You can see why can't you? And the board are deeply upset too, especially with the manner of some of the losses-mainly our rivals. Games we should have won." I looked at the floor. I knew exactly what was coming, and already had a statement for the press developing. They'd be circling like the vultures that they are.
The chairman presented a piece of paper directly in front of me on the table. I frowned and looked closer. What the-
"This....is a new contract offer? Two years?" I was flumuxed. I get the club relegated......and get offered a two year deal. The chairman nodded.
"It's a two deal, on £1,000 per week. However, you will need to reduced the wage bill by £3,000. There will be no money for transfers. And we expect the club, to win the NPower League 2 title. Think you can do it?" There was yet another long pause. They wanted me, to win the title, after releasing yet more players, with again no money to bring in players, with increasing debt? My head was swimming. I looked at him.
"Can...I think things over for a week? This is totally unexpected. And without doubt, it's going to be a major challenge." The chairman nodded.
"A challenge we think you can ahchieve. I'll give you a week then to decide then."
