[Poolie Exile]

Remember this?

Well what is about to follow is a journey to become the best there, using that game. OK, this is not what you thought you would get but then again you get the unexpected with me.

So what do we have here:

* Only 4 divisions to play in, from Premiership to Division Three, with a maximum of 20 teams in each division - not every club is available to be managed.

* The Carling Cup is the Coca-Cola Cup, with the First and Second Rounds being played over two legs.

* The Anglo Italian Cup.

* No Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

* Europe means a limit on foreign talent, maximum 4 non English players (Welsh, Scots, Northern Ireland = foreigners) !!! All three established European competitions are in residence, none of this Champions League and Europa League rubbish.

* All reserves are regens as are Non-Leaguers when they come into the league structure.

* No squad numbers, and a maximum of three subs (2 outfield and one keeper) for Premiership and Europe otherwise it's just the two.

* and most importantly, NO TRANSFER WINDOWS! Loans are only a maximum of 3 months long as well...

So basically we are going back in time, when Newcastle United's Nicky Butt was a mere 17 year old unknown and Chris Waddle was strutting his stuff at Hillsborough! A bit like a journey in a time machine.

The question is, where does this adventure have its starting point?

Stay tuned for developments...

[Poolie Exile]

In the beginning...

Scene: It's a wintry day in Sheffield and there has been some overnight snow. We are on board a First South Yorkshire 20A bus which has just left the terminus at Hemsworth. A passenger takes his seat and suddenly Bill Conti's "Gonna Fly Now" (aka the Rocky theme) kicks into life from a grey Samsung Pixon M8800...

"Hello Mam, you OK?"
"Yeah fine Mark, are you?"
"Great thanks, just nipping into town for a bit."
"Oh. Are you on the bus or summat?"
"Aye, I've just got on the 20A. What can I do for you?"
"You said you're going to town, aren't you?"
"Yeah, why? Do you want something fetching?"
"Can you get me a loaf of bread from Sainsbury's on the Moor please? Got the money here for you if you can."
"Well, I'm going to Sainsbury's anyway - need a few bits and pieces myself. So no problem with that."
"Thanks."
"I'll be up within the next hour or so with your loaf. See you in a bit."
"See ya in a bit."

20 minutes later, Mark alighted the bus and walked up The Moor to Sainsbury's. He picked up a basket, loaded it with what he needed - including his Mam's loaf of bread. After queuing for a bit, the checkout operator served him and he packed the food in the two carrier bags. Walking out of the shop, something strange caught Mark's eye.

Sainsbury's Central, The Moor, Sheffield

It was like a Doctor Who Tardis Police Box thingy in the middle of the Moor, and people were going in and out of it. Mark edged closer and read the small sign at the side: GO INSIDE AND REMEMBER THOUGHTS OF THE PAST! FREE ENTRY Sounds a bit of a laugh Mark thought, I'll see what we can have a look at eh?

Nobody elsewhere was in the building, so Mark put the shopping down and looked at a control panel. It looked false so Mark just started pressed random buttons as if it was fully functionable. "What a load of crap," thought Mark and he was just about to walk out and down for the 51 bus to his Mam's when...

Suddenly, there was a sound of doors sliding together and the light had turned to pure darkness. Next a whizzing sound like a spinning top, Mark was stumbling around not knowing where he was.

"What the...let me get out of here!" Mark wailed, but it was wailing into nothingness. Nobody could hear him.

After what seemed an absolute eternity, the spinning and whizzing subsided. Lights came on and the doors slid open. Off to the 51 now Mark thought, and stepped outside. But he wasn't on the Moor at all.

Where was he and what had happened? He was about to find out shortly...

[EllandRoad1919]

Am liking this so far mate. One quick thing if your posting pics of players can you make them old, i.e Gary Kelly in 1993 it'll look better in my opinion.

[Poolie Exile]

EllandRoad1919, on 11 February 2010 - 05:40 PM, said:

Am liking this so far mate. One quick thing if your posting pics of players can you make them old, i.e Gary Kelly in 1993 it'll look better in my opinion.

If I can get hold of them, then I will - guaranteed.

[Poolie Exile]

This is not happening to me...

Mark stepped outside, to a bright and sunny day - a stark comparison to the snow he had initially encountered earlier. There was something strange about where he was, he definitely was convinced that he was not on The Moor now. Perhaps, the winter day was a figment of his imagination and that time capsule thing was just him daydreaming. "I know this place," Mark muttered to himself, "But I can't seem to remember where I am. It's not Sheffield City Centre that's for sure."

Suddenly, he was approached by a complete stranger in his eyes:

"Now then West View me old mate."

Only Phil Dunn and Nick Loughlin called Mark that, and it certainly wasn't Nick in front of him.

"Alright."
"Thought you'd be back home after last night's events like. Checking if they're true and that."
"Yeah whatever Phil."
"You going to go for it."
"Maybe, I don't know." Mark was puzzled beyond comprehension by this point.
"Anyone would think you've just come out of a time machine like. What with the way you're behaving."
"A time machine? Yeah, it's just..." Mark pointed into mid-air.
"What? I can't see anything pal. But anyway look if anyone can do it, you can mate. Keep us informed like, got to go somewhere now."
"Yeah..sure!"

Mark left Phil and walked to a newspaper vendor just down the road, and purchased a copy of the paper. It was then that something hit him literally.

Back home in Hartlepool, that's where he was. He looked at the date on the paper, 5 July 1993 - how did Phil know he'd be there? Mark didn't know Phil until 1997 at the latest so how come Phil recognised him? There was something sinister going on Mark assumed, and as he walked back along Clarence Road - a bloke was heading his way with a hand outstretched as if to offer a welcoming handshake. It was a bloke Mark despised with pure hatred, but why was he coming my way? So what was Mark doing in Hartlepool and in 1993? Answers were needed, and needed..fast!

[itchycoo]

Aaaaah... I remember when I signed Totti as a 17-year old left forward on CMITA (probably round 93), in those days I liked to play 4 forwards (Totti, Mancini, Massaro and Cantona in Sampdoria as I recall).

This should be interesting, I'm looking forward to follow this story!

[Poolie Exile]

I've stepped back in time...

Mark was walking up Clarence Road, the bloke was walking down. Well, he couldn't fail to recognise him - 6'6 tall and with a piercing gaze that said I want you now! So why was Mark in 1993? That blasted time machine thingy he messed about with, why did I press that control panel.

It had transported him back in the dark times in Hartlepool United's history, the Garry Gibson era where the chairman was a hated figure in the town. Gibson drew nearer, the time machine was nowhere to be seen, no going back now and as for Mam's loaf of bread - that had gone too. A 38 year old man back in the day when really he was 21, and he would encounter things he didn't want to. Suddenly he was face to face with Gibson.

"Nice to see you got here Mark." Gibson said, a sly smirk across his face.
"What I am doing back in 1993, answer me this."
"You've come to save Pools for me."
"I have come to save Pools for YOU? No way mate, I'm nobody's puppet!"
"Well, you can't get away from it. You're at Hartlepool United now, and I am going to make you manager in place of that useless Busby character."
"Don't think so, what can I do to reverse this nightmare?"

Gibson chuckled evilly: "Nothing, there's no way back."
"But I'm going to be really in effect older than some of the players."
"Yes, so what? This is your dream - live it."
"On one condition, I do what I like and you don't interfere."
"Fair enough."
"Anyway, you'll be gone in the summer." Mark said, recalling the actual real life events.
"So be it, but you're in charge now. Follow me to destiny."

Something like this has caused a hell of problem...

All Mark really wanted to do now was to crawl up into the nearest corner and...die slowly! This was not what he envisaged his life to be like.

[Poolie Exile]

Page last updated at 16:15 GMT, 6 July 1993

........................................................................

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Gibson goes for complete unknown

Controversial Hartlepool United Chairman Garry Gibson has surprised the Third Division club's fans again by replacing Viv Busby with a complete unknown. Gibson has brought in Mark Duell as his new manager, and is expecting big things from his new chief.

Duell, 38, comes in from nowhere to replace Busby who was dismissed by Gibson on Sunday evening after having a blazing row with the Chairman over the way he wanted to run the team. Gibson had apparently wanted a say in all football matters and when Busby didn't want this, the Hartlepool Chairman swiftly showed the former Sunderland striker the door.

Gibson had this to say about his new man in charge:

"As much as I have the ultimate respect for Viv Busby and what he has done for Hartlepool United, I felt as if we needed a change of focus here at the Victoria Ground. So in order to achieve these objectives, we need a forward thinking coach and as soon as Mark's name popped up on my radar I had to bring him here.

Other sides would be pleased to have him on board but Hartlepool is where he is and I am sure he will be a great manager in our Club's history following on from such luminaries as Fred Westgarth and Brian Clough.

We will give him all the support he needs, but he is under no illusions that this Club doesn't tolerate failures."

The new manager admitted that taking over "is a challenge in itself":

"As a Hartlepool United supporter, there are days when you wish you could do better than the manager in charge at that time and today I have been surprisingly given that chance.

I was unaware of the Chairman's interest but taking over here at Pools is a challenge in itself. This team was in the Second Division recently but we are here to get them back and head for bigger and better things.

I know I am young, but so was Brian Clough when he managed Pools and he hasn't done too bad since he left here has he? The Chairman has promised me that I have full control and I am sure we can work alongside each other to take Hartlepool United on a new level. Things will happen on and off the pitch and it's my aim to give my home town a football club that they are going to be proud of."

[Poolie Exile]

Don't reckon much to these...

Mark, freshly unveiled as the new manager of Hartlepool United, sat in the room where the recent press conference had been held - alone. What an absolute joke he sounded in that interview he thought, how naive and chairman friendly did he sound? Replaying the entire spiel through his head, he realised he sounded like a complete and utter arse lick. Which really he wasn't. Just had to sound good to please Gibson.

He threw the piece of paper across the room in pure frustration, angry that he had been manipulated by in going back to 1993 and the bad times for his beloved Pools. As Garry Gibson had said, there was no going back now - he was trapped in a time void which there was no seemingly return journey back to 2010. Suppose I best make the most of this, change the future of football perhaps.

Who knows this could be fun after all? Pulling a fresh sheet of A4 out of his pocket, he surveyed the back room staff at his disposal.

David McCreery - Assistant Manager and First Team Coach
Trevor Ludden - Physiotherapist
Tony Fox, Colin Deehan and Bruce Wallace - Club Scouting Team
Wayne King - Youth Scout and Development Officer

What a bunch of losers Mark thought, they'll have to go...every single of them!

McCreery: going to be out of work soon...

"I'll set about bringing my own team in, and they will be better than these even with the constraints Gibson has placed on the Club." Mark thought. Now let's have a look at the playing side... Mark shuddered as he found the list of players at his disposal. Surely he didn't have to overhaul that as well? By the look of it, he did. Now who said this was going to be easy. Recalling what Gibson said at the press conference in his head:

Quote

"..this Club doesn't tolerate failures."

Sucking on a sweet, Mark thumbed through the list. Some good, some average, some absolute pants...and I have got the pleasure of meeting them all tomorrow! Fantastic! With that in mind he headed off to his small compact office, sat down and picked up the phone. Time to put the existing backroom staff on the dole queue, and get some replacements in! No room for sentiment now, the real work begins!

[Poolie Exile]

Need new blood...

The phone calls made to terminate the contracts of David McCreery etc completed, and new backroom staff agreed in principle, meant it had been a stressful few hours for Hartlepool United's new manager. Searching his pockets for the squad list, Mark found nothing so it was a walk down the corridor to Garry Gibson's office. Surely, the Chairman might have a spare copy. He knocked on the door.

"Yes, come in." Gibson barked.
"Mr Chairman, I wondered if you could help.."
"What is it Mark?"
"I've er...lost the list of the playing staff you gave me."
"No problem, here's a spare copy."
"Thanks."
"Anything else?"

Mark was dying to ask Gibson how much he had to spend on new players, but erred on the side of caution and thought that'll do for tomorrow after he'd met the playing staff for the first time. He didn't want to get on the Chairman's back straight away did he? Otherwise Gibson being Gibson would have him out of Pools before he could say Millhouse Terracing, that was the way he operated.

"Oh, I've sacked the back room team."
"You've done what?" Gibson hauled his 6'6 frame from his leather backed chair and confronted his rookie manager. "Don't you realise that costs money Mark?"
"Well it does, normally. But..."
"But what?"
"I managed to convince them to not accept a severance package so they could find alternative employment quickly."
"Good work." Gibson sighed. "What about their replacements?"
"They're arriving at 10:00 am in the morning, before I take my first training session at 11. They haven't broke the bank in case you wondered."
"Best not have, can't go away throwing money away just like idiots. This is a serious business you know."
"I know. Anyway thanks for the list, see you in the morning."
"See you in the morning."

Mark walked back to the office marked "Manager", sat in the chair and cast his eyes down the list Gibson had given him. Some were highlighted, the important ones Mark surmised, but it didn't look impressive:

GOALKEEPERS:
Timothy CARTER, aged 26
Steven JONES, aged 20

DEFENDERS:
Paul CROSS, aged 28
Ryan CROSS, aged 21
Phillip GILCHRIST, aged 20
Thomas McGUCKIN, aged 21
Keith NOBBS, aged 31
John MacPHAIL, aged 38

MIDFIELDERS:
Dean EMERSON, aged 31
Brian HONOUR, aged 30
Lenny JOHNROSE, aged 24
Paul OLSSON, aged 28
Mick TAIT, aged 37
Paul THOMPSON, aged 21
Paul WRATTEN, aged 23

STRIKERS:
John GALLAGHER, aged 24
Keith HOUCHEN, aged 33
Nicholas PEVERELL, aged 19
Nicholas SOUTHALL, aged 22
Colin WEST, aged 25

He turned over the page, overleaf were profiles of those Gibson had distinctly highlighted. Mark guessed these were the ones that Gibson wanted playing week in week out...

[Hammer100]

Loving the start to this, but don't expect anything different from you Mark.

Some proper lower league legends there, and Keith Houchen

[Poolie Exile]

The "Star" players

Mark looked the five players that Gibson had highlighted on the previous page. Each had a pen picture, then a small profile and finally something entitled: "Chairman's Comment". Surely that should have been a job for the assistant manager but since a) Gibson was very "hands on" - namely just wanted to have a say in virtually everything (shades of Vladimir Romanov at Hearts from 2005 onwards) and b) Mark had sacked David McCreery anyway: well it didn't matter.

These were the "five", the ones Mark suspected had to be automatic choices:



Name: Philip GILCHRIST
Age: 20
Previous Club(s): Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough
Chairman's Comment: A very good and cultured young central defender who is already attracting interest from bigger names. Exudes a sense of calm and despite his lack of experience, is probably one of the best defenders you will ever work with. Provides a solid barrier in defence with MacPhail.



Name: John MacPHAIL
Age: 38
Previous Club(s): Dundee, Sheffield United, York City, Bristol City, Sunderland
Chairman's Comment: You can't go wrong with having a bit of experience in your side and MacPhail provides this in abundance. We were so lucky to acquire him from Sunderland when we did, and despite his lack of pace - he's still good. Plays well in tandem with the youngster Gilchrist. No idea how many seasons his legs will last though.



Name: Brian HONOUR
Age: 30
Previous Club(s): Darlington, Peterlee Newtown FC
Chairman's Comment: The fans favourite, pure and simple. Mr Hartlepool United as they keep telling me, and I like him too. Always capable of scoring spectacualr goals, he is one of those players who really should be playing at a higher level but keeps resisting because he loves us too much. Been injured recently but a real asset.



Name: Nicholas (Nicky) SOUTHALL
Age: 22
Previous Club(s): None, came through ranks
Chairman's Comment: One of the best youngsters to come through the YTS system since I have been here. He is equally adept at playing in midfield or up front so will be a real versatile player to have at our disposal. Like Gilchrist, he is already attracting attention from bigger clubs so we must try and keep him if possible.



Name: Keith HOUCHEN
Age: 33
Previous Club(s): Chesterfield, Leyton Orient, York City, Scunthorpe United, Coventry City, Hibernian
Chairman's Comment: A FA Cup winner in 1987, and we have him playing for us! A proven goalscorer who is in his second spell at the Club and will be a pivotal point of attack to get out of this division. Like Honour, the fans love him so we have to rely on getting a decent player to partner him and fire us to glory.

Then at the bottom it said what Mark wanted to know:

YOU HAVE £190,000 TO SPEND ON NEW PLAYERS, MIGHT GET BITS MORE IF YOU'RE LUCKY. DON'T BUY ANY RUBBISH!

Typical Gibson, still trying to dictate everything. "Well," Mark said to himself, "I'm gonna buy and sell whoever I bloody well like Mr Chairman." With that in mind he scribbled down "I need wingers and full-backs" on the sheet, placed the sheet on the desk for the following morning, exited the office - locking the door behind him and headed off home for the day..exhausted!

[Poolie Exile]

Getting down to business

Mark awoke at 8:00 am on his second official full day as Hartlepool United manager, still trying to comprehend how it had all happened. Today he was going to meet his new back room team for the first time, get to know the players and take them training. Easy for some. With that in mind, he slipped on some clothes and headed downstairs to the dining area of the guest house where he had checked into.

Mrs Wilkinson did a marvellous fry up it had to be said, the works indeed including fried bread and black pudding too. Just the thing to give you that give and go attitude for the day which lay ahead. All washed down with at least three giant mugfuls of tea, white with no sugar. That completed and settled down in his stomach, Mark made the short walk into the centre of town and to the ground, and his office.

Looking at what he had written last night, he pushed that aside and started to think of planning some pre-season games to get the team up to speed for the big kick-off which was just a matter of five weeks or so away. Try and get some decent sides here, and go for three away from home he reckoned was a good idea. "I'll book them after training finishes." he thought. Then there was a knock at the door.

Six men walked in, meet the new back room team.

David Clark - Assistant Manager and First Team Coach
Dave Holzman - Physiotherapist
"Ossie" Gray, Stuart Wilkins and Lee Whitton - Club Scouting Team
Linton Crosby - Youth Scout and Development Officer

All six were happy to be involved, and they looked the part. An eagerness to impress and do well, a thought shared by Mark himself. Moments later, it was time to meet the players, well the ones he had at his disposal. As David Clark put them through their paces, it was clear in Mark's mind that they were OK but yes - they did need strengthening. Certain positions had too much competition, others had none at all. Satisfied at what he had seen so far, he retired to his office to get on with the activity of booking those pre-season games.

After two hours solid negotiations with loads of clubs, Mark had settled on the five teams that would test how good this squad was:

Bishop Auckland (away)
Barnsley (home)
Derry City (away)
Cliftonville (away)
Portsmouth (home)

Now for the fun and games, getting in some new faces - even if did mean upsetting Gibson and his plans!

Solitude: Home of Cliftonville, where Mark was taking Pools pre-season

[Poolie Exile]

Cup draws are always exciting...

The draw for the First Round of the Coca-Cup had been made, and just like any manager Mark was keen to see whom his new charges would face first. The draw came out as follows:

York City v Bristol City

Chester City v AFC Bournemouth

Hull City v Scarborough

Torquay United v Rotherham United

HARTLEPOOL UNITED v Wrexham

Rochdale v Cambridge United

Doncaster Rovers v Barnet

Bradford City v Plymouth Argyle

Stockport County v Scunthorpe United

Colchester United v Fulham

Reading v Preston

Crewe Alexandra v Huddersfield Town

Bristol Rovers v Swansea City

Exeter City V Brentford

Brighton and Hove Albion v Leyton Orient

Oxford United v Wycombe Wanderers

At home for the first leg, just what Mark needed and against a team he felt they could beat. Things were getting better all the time, only the spectre of Gibson was haunting everything.

Now where's that list of new players....

[Shedender]

You've made a good start to this although I'm not suprised mate. You're a good writer.

Keep it up.

[Poolie Exile]

Saturday 10 July 1993

ALL BORE DRAW AT KINGSWAY
Bishop Auckland 0 - 0 Hartlepool United

Houchen couldn't repeat this today...

Bishop Auckland and Hartlepool United served up a real bore fest today in their pre-season friendly at Kingsway, and predictably enough the match ended goalless.

The home side had the better of the opening exchanges but found visiting goalkeeper Tim Carter in dependable form between the sticks for 'Pool.

Hartlepool's best chance of the game came midway through the second half when exciting youngster Nicky Southall ran at the home defence but was halted by a solid defensive back line.

Hartlepool entertain Division One Barnsley next Saturday at the Victoria Ground and new manager Mark Duell will no doubt be expecting a better perfomance from his charges.

Team: Carter, McGuckin, Ryan Cross, Emerson, Gilchrist ©, MacPhail, West, Honour, Houchen, Southall, Thompson. Subs used: Nobbs, Gallacher.

Attendance: 1,564

ITV Sport Man of the Match: Keith Houchen (Hartlepool United)

Post-Match Reaction with Mark:

Quote

"I'll be honest, that was rubbish. Nobody should have been subjected to dross like that, it was terrible. Sure, we missed two important players but that is not an excuse. People would expect us to win games like this, even though it is only pre-season.

We will train hard in the week, but my standards are quite high and I expect much better from the team if we are to make a concerted push this season. There is a long way to go but I'm not going to stand for sub-standard performances what you have seen this afternoon."

[Poolie Exile]

Thanks all that have posted replies so far, appreciated.

Still seems like a good idea, so I'm carrying it on for now. Although finding old player pictures is proving harder than anticipated.

[Poolie Exile]

Things have to improve already

After his first game in charge of Hartlepool United, albeit a pre-season friendly, had ended in a turgid 0-0 draw Mark faces the wrath of the fourth estate. He pulled no punches though, admitting it was rubbish and that there was a long way to go but he expected better. Gibson wasn't a happy man either, he thought he had got a coach with modern ideas but he was seeing the same old crap. Surely it wasn't a case of getting fired within the same week.

That Monday morning Mark was about to walk into his office when Gibson spotted him, and shepherded him into his instead.

"Mark, I'll be honest...Saturday was terrible!"
"I'm sorry Mr Gibson."
"It wasn't just bad, it was as bad as it gets. We should have beaten them out of sight."
"Yes Mr Gibson, but we were missing a recognised left back and right winger."
"Excuses, excuses. We should have won. Don't you understand that?"
"I do, but it's not an excuse. We definitely missed those players."
"Well, you best do something about it then."
"I am going to."
"Good, now carry on."

As Mark left Gibson's office, he could feel the anger building up inside of him. Didn't Gibson realise that Mark's hands were tied with what he had inherited? Obviously not. Playing a right-back at left-back, and a striker on the wing: he couldn't do anything else. He got to his office, sat down and started ringing around. After an age, he had seemingly got what he wanted but was worried that the players concerned would change their minds at the last possible minute.

The days dragged on, and although Lenny Johnrose and Paul Cross had resumed full training, the new players still hadn't turned up in Hartlepool. He contacted the clubs again and was told there had been a delay at the Football League headquarters with the transfer registrations. So he phoned them, and was informed that due to circumstances beyond control: it would be at least next week before he could unveil his first signings as Pools chief. So it was a case of make do and cope for Barnsley's visit on Saturday. Nothing less than a win would appease him, and well Gibson for that matter....

When it all goes wrong, you feel like banging your head against one of these...

[Poolie Exile]

Page last updated at 17:00 GMT, 17 July 1993

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FIRST HALF BLAST GIVES POOLS PRE-SEASON GLORY
Hartlepool United 3 - 0 Barnsley

Three goals in a rip roaring first half display gave Third Division Hartlepool United a deserved win over First Division Barnsley at the Victoria Ground this afternoon.

Pools took an early seventh minute lead when Dean Emerson weighted a superb pass that spilt open the Tykes defence and winger Lenny Johnrose skipped away to round Lee Butler and open the scoring with a composed finish.

Midway through the half, the home side doubled their lead. Left winger Paul Thompson was allowed all the room in the world to whip a dangerous left wing cross and midfield ace Brian Honour arrived late to head the ball home.

Barnsley conceded a third in the 34th minute when strikers Nicky Southall and Keith Houchen linked up for the youngster Southall to slide the ball past an exposed Butler. The Tykes were disappointing throughout and their best chance came in 64 minutes when Ian Bryson picked out David Currie but his drive thudded against the post and away to safety.

Team: Carter, McGuckin, Paul Cross, Emerson, Gilchrist ©, MacPhail, Johnrose, Honour, Houchen, Southall, Thompson. Subs used: Nobbs, Gallacher.

Attendance: 1,875

BBC Sport Man of the Match: Keith Nobbs (Hartlepool United)

Post-Match Reaction with Mark:

Quote

"That was more like what I am demanding from my players and I hope the home supporters were proud of what they saw this afternoon. You wouldn't have thought there are two divisions between the sides as we dominated them from start to finish.

Each of the goals was really well taken and from a manager's point of view, that is very pleasing indeed. I am hoping to create competition for places even more with three new faces set to arrive next week. Hopefully they will be completed in time for when we go on our two match tour of Northern Ireland.

However, with that in hindsight, I am a very satisfied manager today."

[Hibee]

I'm really enoying this, from starting in such a strange (sort of Dr Who/Twighlight Zone) way it has quickly moved into a very realistic picture of struggling in the lower leagues.

This post has been edited by Hibee: 18 February 2010 - 11:14 PM