On a quest to be the best. [FM15]

I'm pleased that we have a ten point gap at the top of the table and it's important that's maintained SBR but I'm sure it's going to be difficult, I hope so.

Certainly looking that way Dan.


We have approached the final month of twenty twenty five and it has been a good season to date as we have finally moved 'away' from last seasons champions Cliftonville as we're currently ten points clear, December proved to be a busy month as we ended up playing nine league games over two competitions - an insane amount of games for a semi-professional club.


December began with a game against league champions Cliftonville who we managed to beat 2-1 at Windsor Park much to the fans' delight as we netted two goals in as many minutes through central defender Conor McCullough and winger Lee Bell to seal the 'huge' win.

Just four days later saw us make the trip to the Riverside Stadium to face my former employers Institute as we suffered a 'disappointing' and 'unacceptable' three goals to two defeat in Drumahoe - Conor McCullough and Gavin Brannigan scored our goals but we couldn't find at least an equaliser.

Our third game in seven days saw us welcome Warrenpoint Town to Windsor Park in the quarter finals of the League Cup and we beat them three one as our three goals arrived in the first half, Andy Montgomery scored twice while Mervyn McKinney also net in between.

We then edged a five goal thriller at home to Dungannon in a game that saw Dean McLaughlin, Stephen Boyd and Michael Newberry all scored.

Our hopes of retaining the League Cup crashed in the semi finals as Glenavon won two one at Windsor Park, Andy Montgomery scored a consolation goal in second half stoppage time.

We then easily won 3-0 at Mourneview Park against Glenavon - our goals came in the opening thirty seven minutes as Conor McCullough, Matthew Clarke (pen) and Mervyn McKinney scored in Lurgan.

For the second time this month we faced Cliftonville in the league, this time at Solitude and this time the game finished in a two two draw as Mervyn McKinney and William Hughes scored in North Belfast.

On Boxing Day the side then hosted Warrenpoint Town in a game that was 'televised' and a twenty third minute spot kick from Matthew Clarke sealed the win.

Twenty twenty five would then conclude with a 2-0 win at home to struggling Knockbreda as once again Matthew Clarke broke the deadlock from the penalty spot, this time on twenty eight minutes before Mervyn McKinney doubled the lead with ten first half minutes remaining.


We will be heading into the New Year with a fifteen point gap at the top of the table as it's sure our title to throw away even though theirs still fourteen league games remaining. In our opening twenty four games, we have scored sixty six times and conceded twenty three times.

Hello all and welcome to the year 2026 and I'm hoping my time at Linfield Football Club will come to an end within the next five or so months as we've currently got a fifteen point lead at the top of the Premiership, secured the Co. Antrim Shield after beating Ards and we're about to start our charge towards the Irish Cup but we've a tough 'opener' against Portadown.


Just four games were scheduled this month and the first of three league games took us to Portadown to begin the New Year as the side recorded a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Andy Montgomery and right back Michael Galbraith who bagged the winner with eleven minutes remaining.

Four days later and we then welcomed Portadown to Windsor Park but this time it was for an Irish Cup fifth round tie as we recorded a four goals to two win as Dean McLaughlin, Andy Montgomery (2) and William Hughes all struck.

We then hammered Ballinamallard 4-0 at home despite only scoring one first half goal through Gavin Brannigan but William Hughes then hit a second half double and Andy Montgomery bagged the fourth goal in the final minute of the game.

The short month then ended with a five two victory at Breda Park against the struggler's courtesy of goals from Lee Bell, Andy Montgomery, Dean McLaughlin (2) and Mervyn McKinney as we had scored four goals inside the opening thirty eight minutes as we maintained our big lead at the summit.


With just eleven league games remaining, we remain fifteen points clear at the top of the table as it's definitely our league title to throw away and I'm hoping we don't as we've been outstanding so far, minus those two disappointing defeats against Ballinamallard and Institute, teams, with all due respect, we should be beating and easily but at least we remain at the summit.

So far it has been a tremendous season as I'm closing in on league success with Linfield Football Club but it's going to be tough as their is still eleven league games remaining and I'm sure we're due some bad form, February saw us play five league games and one Irish Cup tie as we looked to progress.


The second month of the calendar year began with a home game against Ballymena United who we managed to defeat three goals to two as our three goals arrived in the opening thirty seven minutes - Matthew Clarke scored from the penalty spot, Gavin Brannigan and Craig Harris also bagged goals.

Four days later the side made the trip to Mourneview Park to face Glenavon in the sixth round of the Irish Cup as we progressed 4-1 - Mervyn McKinney, William Hughes, Niall Topley own goal and Liam Parkhouse all scored.

We then recorded a convincing 3-0 win at Coleraine with all the goals arriving in the first half as William Hughes broke the deadlock inside the opening minutes, Dean McLaughlin doubled the lead on the quarter hour and then Gavin Brannigan added the third goal in first half stoppage time.

It was then a seven goal thriller at Stangmore Park, beating Dungannon Swifts four three as back-up striker Liam Parkhouse started and scored twice while central defenders Conor McCullough and Chris Hegarty also found the net.

Our penultimate game of the month saw us beat my former employers Institute 4-1 at Windsor Park but we needed to rely on a six minute Mervyn McKinney hat trick at the end of the game to seal the points after Lee Bell had equalised with seventy one minutes on the clock.

Glenavon would then head to Windsor Park and we'd finish the month with a two one victory as once again we needed a late, late goal to seal maximum points when left winger Lee Bell pinched the points when he scored in the ninety third minute while Mervyn McKinney scored our first goal of the game on forty four minutes.


Champions? Not yet but surely we can't squander a twenty one lead with just six league games remaining (seven for Cliftonville as they'll face Institute in their game in hand) but we've been outstanding this campaign and I deserve to 'chalk off' the Premiership title, Co. Antrim Shield and I'm hoping we can secure the Irish Cup as well but that's going to be difficult.

Let's be honest we all know that you're going to win it without even seeing the remainder of the season

Great season mate.The league is surely yours now.

You never know what'll happen Dan, I've got to be confident though but with Cliftonville in the final it's going to be difficult.

Cheers SBR, the league has been secured MATHEMATICALLY as even I can't surrender that lead at the top.


We entered the month of March with the league title mathematically secured and just one point/win away to sealing the trophy I want the most this season, March turned out to be a short month as just four games were played over the course of the month with just one of them being in the DBP, could the game away to Warrenpoint be the afternoon we seal the league?


Just four games were played this month over three competitions and the first was in the quarter finals of the Irish Cup against Coleraine who we beat 4-1 to seal our semi place. Winger Lee Bell scored in either half while Conor McCullough and Mervyn McKinney also scored in the win. Cliftonville crashed out so we've to believe that we can win the cup now.

Despite scoring two goals at home, our All-Ireland quarter final first leg clash with Cork City ended in a three two defeat as Mervyn McKinney had got us off to a dream start inside a minute while Andy Montgomery added our second goal of the game to remain in the tie.

Our one and only league game this month saw us travel to Warrenpoint Town who beat us one nil in a 'disgusting' performance as the league still hasn't been secured.

The month ended three days later as we travelled to Turner's Cross to face Cork in the second leg of the All-Ireland Cup and despite beating them 2-1 we crashed out of the competition on away goals - Dean McLaughlin and Andy Montgomery scored both goals in the first half. I'm not too disappointed though because we had won the cup last season.


Despite losing our only league game of the month, we still remain fifteen points clear with as many points still to play for this season as their is five league games remaining. We have scored ninety three goals so far this season, looking good to break the one hundred goals total.

And the time is now! We have approached the penultimate and final month of the season as I look to secure both the league and Irish Cup this season and I believe we can achieve both as the league is all but wrapped up, needing just at least a point from our remaining fixtures. Seven games ended up being left to play this season.


It would be back-to-back league defeats this season as fierce rivals Glentoran beat us three one at The Oval, our only goal came from Andy Montgomery who struck in the fifty second minute.

Three days later we'd welcome Glenavon to Windsor Park and defeated them 4-2 as we secured the league title following this success as Craig Harris, Chris Hegarty, Liam Parkhouse and Dean McLaughlin all netted in the victory as trophy #2 was signed, sealed and delivered this season.


We then advanced to the final of the Irish Cup after seeing off fellow Premiership club Dungannon Swifts 4-2 as we bagged three of our four goals inside the opening thirty one minutes as Ashley Manley put through his own net, Dean McLaughlin and then Lee Bell also scored, Bell would then net his second with ten minutes remaining.

A trip to Warrenpoint was next as the side returned to league action and beat them four one at Milltown. Dean McLaughlin scored twice, Gavin Brannigan was also on target, as was Craig Harris.

Our penultimate league game saw us see off Ballymena United 4-2 at Windsor Park as Andy Montgomery bagged two goals inside the opening eleven minutes before Gavin Brannigan netted two minutes later and then Mervyn McKinney added our fourth goal of the game a minute into the second period.

We then concluded the league season with a one one draw at home to Cliftonville, Lee Bell scoring with nine minutes remaining.

The final game of the season was the Irish Cup final against Championship 1 winners Crusaders and we sealed the trophy following a three two victory as we scored three goals inside the final half an hour - Mervyn McKinney, Stephen Boyd and Andy Montgomery as we sealed our third trophy of the season.



Conformation that the league has been signed, sealed and delivered this season as we finished twelve points clear of last seasons champions Cliftonville as it was a remarkable campaign, scoring one hundred and seven goals and conceding just the forty three times in thirty eight games.

And now it's down to final 'big' piece of news:


Following our success in the league, Co. Antrim Shield and Irish Cup, I have decided to step down as Linfield manager as I've nothing else to win at the club and now it's time to move onto 'pastures new' but I don't know the next destination as of yet but I'm hoping not to be 'out of management' for a long time.

Chelsea were relegated from the Premier League, I applied as they're a 'big club' who hadn't spent cash in the past few seasons so maybe they're skint? But they decided to appoint Jake Buxton(?), costing £750k in compensation from Sheffield Wednesday. Their loss. Didn't even offer me an interview which disappointed me to an extent.

Congratulations on your league and cup win mate.Unlucky on the Chelsea job.Its their loss.

Cheers SBR, was a bit disappointed to not even get offered an interview, oh well, I hope they struggle this coming season.


After being 'unsuccessful' in several job vacancies without even getting an interview, I started to wonder when my managerial campaign would continue. During the 'close season' I wasn't even offered interviews at Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace, Sheffield Wednesday and even my 'beloved' Rangers while I'm sure I was 'laughed off' from one team as well.

Then one team was relegated from the Scottish Premiership and they were manager-less so I decided to screw it, apply and hope for the absolute best as I feel I had nothing to lose.


The team was Inverness Caledonian Thistle and they decided to go ahead an offer the 'unloyal' manager an interview as I feel two things need to happen if I want to be taken serious - 1) I need to once again 'wow' a team and 2 I will need to remain somewhat loyal or teams will probably continue to not want me.


And much to my delight, they have come back and offered me the post following their relegation to the Championship and the relegation has caused several players to become unhappy so expect many out and I've received a transfer budget of six hundred and seventy five thousand but that'll be need to be adjusted as the club is currently over the wage budget.


And this is the proof that the club have indeed been relegated, they lost the relegation/promotion play-off thingy to Falkirk but they deserved to be relegated as the club only won seven out of their thirty eight league games and that's simply not good enough for any club.

Promotion is a must but it's going to be difficult, we are predicted to win the league but the league also will have Kilmarnock (as seen from the screenshot above), Ross County and St. Mirren. It's not going to be easy that's for sure.

Need I say more well done mate!

Good luck up in Scotland mate.

Cheers Dan, after a while the league become a stroll in the park even with those back-to-back defeats and as for the Irish Cup success, well it wasn't as 'easy' as I had hoped.

I've just the one goal in Scotland first and foremost SBR and that's avoid being sacked again, ha!


Following my arrival at Inverness Caledonian Thistle the first thing I didn't expect on my hands is a player 'revolt' as several wanted to depart the club after their relegation to the Championship and that's something I will need to address, but I won't sell for the sake of selling but I'll only sell player if they 'match my fee' and if they don't then they'll remain at the club - happy or not.


Eleven players ended up arriving at the Caledonian Stadium this summer, six of the eleven players arriving on free transfers.

Our first two signings were both on frees as Spanish winger Kevin Santos and striker Gabriel Vargas swapped sunny Spain for the Scottish Highlands while another striker, Graeme McManus arrived from Kilmarnock. Asier Nunez is a central defender who arrived from Osasuna's B team while Nestoras Foustouridis came from Ast. Tripolis. Javier Ruiz, a central midfielder and arguably now our best player joined the club on a free from Atletico's C team.

I then spent fifty two thousand to capture Ross McCluskey from Premiership champions Hamilton, Ross Howe joined on loan from Plymouth, left back Dionysis Fotis arrived from Anag. Karditsas, young right back set us back three hundred thousand from Falkirk while our last signing was right back Ngcebo Buthelezi on a free transfer.


It's a clear-out as seventeen players departed, the 'biggest' departure was winger Andy MacDonald who headed to Falkirk for half a million pound but I didn't want to lose him but they matched his 'minimum fee release clause' and that's annoyed me a bit.

The other 'cash' departures saw Chris Brown join Hearts, Mergin Fejzullahu go to Helsingborg, Ben Ward went to St. Johnstone, Ross Lyon headed to Premiership side Falkirk, experienced left back Graeme Shinnie went oversees to join Ashdod, full back Brad McKay and goalkeeper Ales Campbell both headed to Rangers. Omas El Kaddouri went to Montpellier on a free, he was being a c**t for no real reason so I let him go on a free because 1) he's old and 2) he was also near on £4k a week.

Four players left when their contracts had expired while five players went out on loan (one not in the screenshot) and I hope the loanees get first team football.


Despite a horrid start, losing to both Clyde and Celtic, the pre season friendlies was quite a successful as we then went on to win our final six games 5-0, 6-0, 1-0, 5-0, 2-0 and 3-0 and keeping clean sheets in the process but I expect that to be different when the competitive stuff starts.

Good pre season mate.Hopefully you will avoid the sack and get back into the top flight after being declared champions.

Cheers SBR, I'm confident that I won't get the sack but then again I felt like that at Clyde and then I got the boot.


Pre season has now been concluded and now it's time for the 'proper' stuff to begin for me at the Caledonian Stadium and I want us to really win the one trophy and that's the Championship trophy and we're favourites to do so but it isn't going to be easy as the league also has St. Mirren, Kilmarnock and Ross County in it.


Just like normal in the leagues below the Premiership in Scotland, my first competitive game was in the Challenge Cup as the first round saw us beat Raith Rovers 4-1 at home as new signings Ross McCluskey and Gabriel Vargas got on the score sheet while Graeme Crowie and Chris Hutcheon also scored at the Caledonian Stadium.

The league season began with a trip to Dumbarton who we managed to beat four two - star midfielder Javier Ruiz netted twice, Gabriel Vargas and Mark Fotheringham also scored.

Our second round Challenge Cup game took us to Hampden Park to face Queen's Park as we eased into the next round, winning five two in a game that saw Steven Wilson score twice while Gabriel Vargas, Chris Hutcheon and Dionysis Fotis found the net.

We then faced Queen of the South for our first home game of the season and we beat QotS 4-2 as 'unhappy' attacking midfielder Chris Hutcheon broke the deadlock after only five minutes, Jamie Campbell then put through his own net before Steven Wilson and Gabrial Vargas added two more goals in the second half.

The side then recorded a 4-1 win over Alloa Athletic at the Caledonian Stadium as goals from Gabriel Vargas and Steven Wilson had us in 'control' inside the opening seven minutes, Mark Fotheringham then scored on seventy two minutes before Wilson's second of the game, with three minutes remaining, sealed the points.

We then crashed out of the League Cup, losing three one against Livingston.

A trip to St. Mirren then finished the first month of the season as the substitutes made the difference in a 3-1 away win. Trailing by a single goal, substitute Kevin Santos equalised with nineteen minutes remaining before another substitute, Stewart Inglis bagged a double inside the final ten minutes.


I can't complain about the start to the league season as we're sitting top of the table, with a one hundred percent record and five points clear of second placed Forfar Athletic but it's only the opening four games and still quite a lot of football to be played this season. we must remain consistent.

Good start

quality start mate.shame about the cup but I'm thinking it would of been hard to win it this season anyway

Perfect start but we didn't expect anything less!

Cheers Johno.

To be fair SBR, I don't consider the League Cup important this season but of course disappointed to crash at the 'first hurdle'.

We? Are you the Susie spokesperson or something? Ha. Cheers though.


It has been a promising start to the season at Inverness, minus that League Cup defeat against Livingston but I refuse to get carried away as only four league games have been played and the league, in my eyes, is the absolute priority and four league games were once again played in September along with a third round Challenge Cup tie.


The month started with a trip to Rugby Park as we took on fellow relegated club Kilmarnock and easily beat them 5-0 as both Ross McCluskey and Stewart Inglis hit doubles while Steven Wilson was also on the score sheet.

A fifth minute penalty from Steven Wilson was enough to seal a single goal win at home to East Fife.

We returned to league action and beat Forfar Athletic 3-1 at the Caledonian Stadium as Chris Hutcheon, Gabriel Vargas and Asier Nunez found the net.

It was the same scoreline as Dunfermline were beaten at home but we needed to bag two late goals to seal the points. Ross Ridgers scored on ten minutes before Mark Fotheringham and Ross McCluskey netted inside the final ten minutes.

September would then conclude with a 5-2 win away to Livingston as Gabriel Vargas scored twice at the Energy Assets Stadium while central defender Asier Nunez, right back Ngcebo Buthelezi and winger/striker Kevin Santos also scored but I was a little disappointed to have conceded twice.


The one hundred percent record continues as it's now eight wins from eight games and a nine point lead at the top of the Championship as it's been a remarkable start to what I expect to be an 'easy' promotion back to the Scottish Premiership and then the bigger challenge starts.

Another superb month mate

Running away with it early! KIU

Cheers Dan.

Indeed we are Gendo, I'm stunned by the start we've made this season. Superb and long may it continue.


With eight league wins from eight league games, it has been a tremendous start to the Championship campaign for Inverness and long may that continue as we now enter the third month of the campaign as three league games and a Challenge Cup semi final await me, can we continue our fantastic start to the season?


Yes we can! The first game of the month saw us record a 4-2 win over struggling Dumbarton at the Caledonian Stadium as winger Kevin Santos fired home a double while Nestoras Foustouridis and Steven Wilson also found the net.

And then we faced the same opposition but this time it was in the Challenge Cup semi final as the side recorded a five goals to one win and will face Kilmarnock in the final next month, Steven Wilson hit a hat trick with the other goal scorers being Kevin Santos and Nestoras Foustouridis.

We then faced Highland rivals Ross County at the Caledonian Stadium and demolished them 4-0 in a game that'll be remembered by winger Steven Wilson as he bagged a treble, Spanish striker Gabriel Vargas was also on target.

The month would then conclude with a hard fought, but deserved two one win away to Queen of the South - Ross McCluskey and Javier Ruiz on target.


Eleven wins from as many league games and forty one goals scored as well, the remarkable start to the league season continues as we've now opened up a ten point gap at the top ahead of Alloa Athletic. Recently relegated Kilmarnock, predicted pre season to finish second, continue to struggle early doors.

The run goes on!

great work mate.pretty sure the leagues yours already.

It's been far too easy so far this season Dan, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.

Refuse to get carried away SBR but you could be correct.


So far it has been a remarkable campaign for Inverness following their relegation bar the disappointingly early League Cup exit, but as we enter the penultimate month, I look to secure my first trophy at the Caledonian Stadium as we'll face Kilmarnock in the Challenge Cup final while we'll have four league games and a Scottish Cup tie.


It was a trip to second placed Alloa that began the penultimate month and a single goal from Kevin Santos on the half hour sealed a 1-0 victory at The Indodrill Stadium.

We then remained on the road as the side travelled to Station Park and defeated Forfar four goals to two as we had four different players on the score sheet - Dionysis Fotis, Gabriel Vargas, Ian Connolly and Ross McCluskey all scoring.

Then came the Challenge Cup final against fellow Championship side Kilmarnock five days later as we recorded an easy 3-0 victory in a game that'll be remembered by the on-loan Plymouth midfielder Ross Howe as he netted a sensational hat trick for the club.


Inverness then returned to league action with a home clash against St. Mirren as the points were shared in a one all draw, Graeme Cowie scoring our goal ten minutes into the second half.

For the second time this month we managed to defeat Kilmarnock, this time in the league and this time 4-2 as star midfielder Javier Ruiz scored twice while Gabriel Vargas and Ross Howe who bagged his fourth goal against 'Killie' this month.

We then completed the penultimate month with a 3-0 Scottish Cup fourth round victory against Premiership's basement club St. Johnstone as the three goals arrived in the second half and they came from Steven Wilson who netted from the penalty spot, Ross Ridgers and Ross Howe.


That draw against St. Mirren ended our absolute perfect start to the campaign but I can't complain because we are sitting thirteen points clear ahead of Alloa Athletic and I'm hoping our 'sensational' season continues in the final month of the calendar year and in twenty twenty seven as well.

Well done on the trophy mate, two down in Scotland now? keep it coming!

Yeah it's my second trophy in Scotland now Dan after 'winning' the League Two play-off's ages ago with Clyde.


With the side currently thirteen points clear at the top of the Championship table, we are looking good for an immediate return to the Premiership following the clubs relegation as the final month of the calendar year saw my Inverness side play five games, all in the league as we looked to extend our lead at the summit.


The final month of twenty twenty six began with a home clash against Livingston as we recorded a 3-1 victory as attacking midfielder Chris Hutcheon struck home two goals inside the opening eight minutes while the other goal was an own goal and that came from Alan Fleming on twenty six minutes.

A trip to Dunfermline was up next as we dropped points for just the second time this season following a two two draw as our goals arrived from Graeme Cowie and Javier Ruiz.

Just three days later we travelled to our fierce rivals Ross County and secured an emphatic 4-1 victory - Ross Ridgers, Mark Fotheringham, Ross McCluskey and Chris Hutcheon all scored in Dingwall.

We then travelled to basement club Dumbarton and beat them 5-0 in a game that would be remembered by right winger Graeme Cowie as he bagged a first half hat trick while Ross McCluskey and Ross Ridgers also scored against the bottom club.

We then ended the calendar year with back-to-back five goals to nil victories as all the goals came in the opening thirty one minutes. Graeme Cowie made it five goals in two games as we netted twice, Kevin Santos also scored twice and the other goal was an Eric Hewitt own goal.


We have ended twenty twenty six with a fourteen point lead over second placed Alloa as we've had a fantastic first half of the season and long may that continue when we enter the New Year and I'm hoping twenty twenty seven will see us secure the league title as quickly as possible.

Another solid couple of months and a great cup win.

It was SBR and I'm delighted to have chalked off the Challenge Cup, meaning when I return to League One I will just need to concentrate on winning the league and nothing else.


Happy New Year to all my readers, it is now 'officially' the year twenty twenty seven and it was a fantastic first half of the season at Inverness and not only are we something like fourteen points clear at the top of the Championship but we also secured the Challenge Cup, a trophy the board don't really care about but are still pleased I won it nonetheless.


Twenty twenty seven kicked off with a hard fought 4-3 win at the Caledonian Stadium against second placed Alloa Athletic despite left back Dionysis Fotis getting us off to a great start after three minutes, Ross McCluskey scored twice and Kevin Santos also found the net but I was very disappointed to have conceded three goals.

Kevin Santos would then bag a treble as we defeated St. Mirren five two in Paisley as the other goals came inside the final sixteen minutes through Stewart Inglis and Javier Ruiz.

The conceding of goals continued as we shipped two more but managed to beat Forfar 3-2 at home - Ross McCluskey bagging two goals while Mark Fotheringham also scored in between the McCluskey double.

It was then back-to-back home games and back-to-back three two victories as Dunfermline were beaten at the Caledonian Stadium as Kevin Santos, Steven Wilson and Javier Ruiz all scored as we stretched our unbeaten league run this season.

All good things have to come to an end, don't they? Well our unbeaten run collapsed at Rugby Park in a THIRTEEN goal thriller as 'Killie' won the game a staggering seven goals to six despite Chris Hutcheon scoring twice inside the opening eleven minutes and Kevin Santos also scored a first half treble as we led 5-2 at half time but we collapsed, conceding five second half goals and we managed to add one more goal in the second half, coming from Javier Ruiz with five minutes left.


Our unbeaten run came to an end in that thirteen goal thriller at Rugby Park but despite that disappointing setback, we have secured a minimum of a play-off spot as my Caley Thistle side are currently sixteen points clear of Alloa and surely it's only a matter of time before the league is secured.

This is looking good for the title! Keep it up