Flight of the Dragon

I know what you mean, IIRC both of my Champions League's at Rangers have been with us second best. It's great.

Brilliant season last year around buddy! Sensational, can't wait to see where you go next!

DanW19 - Cheers Dan, this next phase is going to be interesting.



They were interested, very keen in fact. But as soon as Avram Grant declared interest, the game changed and all bets were off. Grant was installed and my application rejected.



However a job did appear. A side we had previously faced in the AFC Champions League and recent winners of the K-League. Not so long ago winners of the AFC Champions League. I agreed to the interview, dazzled them and then told them I only wanted a year contract. They reluctantly agreed but I got a job to progress a club and to move on. What was not to like about the job?

So what's not to like about the job .... ?



Good to see I have the backing of other managers, not that I need it but nice to have it.



It's a club with a brilliant background. Lot of history, so defiantly something to like about the job.



Managing this guy is another good thing about this club. Means that it can attract good players or possess some good players. What's not to like?



What's that .... bad news. Finances at the club are in a right old mess. £35k in the red with wages and finances labelled as insecure. No monies to manoeuvre in the market either. The squad is terrible and no wonder the last manager was sacked.



The squad is thin. With no money we are going to be in a little whole. Looking at the youth in the U18s squad, some of them are going to be thrown into the first team to help bulk out the squad.



Promise broken by the Chairman. No parent club. No extra source of income. I am a little concerned I have been sold a dud.



Had to sell this midfielder. Got 40k more than his value, yet I made the school boy error of telling him we are selling him to raise funds because of the state of the club. He didn't take to it kindly and all hell broke lose!

So what's not to like ... EVERYTHING!

Best of luck at Seongnam mate.

Group has been drawn, there is a good possibility of progressing out of this ... oh wait ... maybe not ...



Sold my best striker to release wages and regather some funds. Shambles.

Good luck with the new job!

George14brfc - Cheers George, going to need it!





Seen us coming the media have. Sad times ahead.

So ... that happened. We bossed the game and the youngsters played with much enthusiasm. Hopefully we can continue this similar style of football and it will serve us well for a good league position.

Just gone and had a 4 goal collapse in my second game ... ouch

Welcome back sports fans ...



Yes that did happen over night. Remarkable really, seem we turn up when it counts.

But ...



At the expense of the league. We are predicted to finish 7th but we are struggling and the way things are going we won't even make continental football next season.

Yep ... winless in 6. Hoping the board don't start getting itchy feet.

Thanks for the media for pointing this out to me and everyone else.

Bugger ... we were already over. Now we are most certainly up the creek without a paddle ... help.

Al-Ahly have come calling. Will take the interview to see what they think.

Impressed them enough to get an offer ... decisions, decisions. Jump ship when the ship is sinking or move to a club where the challenge is to beat the previous years record of points total in the league.

Take the challenge and see what happens, though if you think the sinking ship is best to be jumped off right now then do that.

None the less enjoying this ALOT!!!

t-mase - Cheers for reading. I decided pretty quickly that Al-Ahly will come calling again in the future when my time here in Korea is done. The ship is sinking but I am not abandoning. There is a real chance that this club despite its financial issues and inconsistent league performances can actually with the AFC Champions League. That is what I am intending to do.



A job I really would have taken had the offer come. Didier will fail. They will be back.

So we managed to pull a few strings and managed to win a few games. The last run really ensured we moved into the top half of the league and therefore play in the Champions split of the league. Guaranteed 6th position.

Life without me hey ... none of the managers linked come close to me. I did sign a one year deal, they have yet to talk to me about continuing. The aim is to finish the season strongly. Ensure there is some money for the club. Then evaluate to see what my next step is.

This could change everything. Seems we have some gems coming through the ranks.

Home leg was all ours. We played a tidy game, and the players raised their standards. It is a pity we get up for games like this but just don't in the league.



Saw them off in the second leg and booked ourselves a game in the Semi Final against a familiar foe in Seoul.

Boom, parked the bus and scored a wonder free kick. This is how we roll. Cheeky victory but completely undeserved.



Won a small fortune for our victory ...



£125k ... was expecting a little more ... sigh



At least that is something for next season ...

Unbelievable scenes. We hit back twice to take the game to extra time. In extra time we conceded a silly goal and then it was all hands on deck. Turn the tactic to go all out and bang, goal comes in and we go to penalties. No one looked like missing and then bang it happened. Hit the post and we had won. WE were favourites but I can't see how that could have been considering the sides. We stole another victory. Stole another trophy and another AFC Champions League.

Decisions to be made. To I stay or do I go. The club is still in a mess, and I do feel a duty of care to them. But seeing as the Chairman signed me without giving me the full picture and contract talks have not happened yet. I'm not overly keen on staying.

Well it was most definitely worth not stepping down now wasn't it!

DanW19 - True. It doesn't seem just you who wants me to stay.



The board want me to stay ... so where is the offer?

All aboard the Porto bus ... this could be interesting!

More valuable cash has come in. Has meant we are posting a massive £68k profit currently for the season.



Best discipline means we get some lose change.



Lucky to end where we did. Should have and could have been a lot worse.

Didn't realise we qualified straight for the quarter finals. It was a pretty even affair, but we managed to find the net. Old faithful Park Ji-Sung saw us over the line and earned us a nice place in the semi final.



Took penalties for San Lorenzo to beat us. They were by far the strongest side. We did have our chances to win on the counter but it was not to be. Came down the the shoot out and we bottled it. Didn't deserve to make the final but nice to compete on the world stage.



That's more like it money wise for a competition.



So we scored late and took it to penalties. This time we made sure we came away winners. We were the better side but couldn't hit a barn door with a banjo during normal time.



Sick. Nice little pot of cash there for coming third.



Oh hello ... out of the red and a little bit of profit too.

That looks like a well needed cash injection!