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Second would be ideal Shedender and its not out of the question just yet!

Thanks again Benniewijs! Second is still our aim right till the last game now!

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With the league title already out of question all I focused on was trying to earn second place but it wouldn't be easy. We still trailed Vidima-Rakovski by three points but with four league games to go all we needed was a perfect month from ourselves and a couple slip ups from the side in second place!


A perfect month for us began with us welcoming Spartak (Varna) and grabbing us win in a five goal thriller. Despite being behind early on we were level through an own goal before taking the lead through Pivaty before the break. Second half Spartak leveled but Zehirov went on to find the net to seal the win for us.

Pirin were next on the agenda for us as we welcomed them in what proved to be a one goal game. We managed to grab the win when Mishev netted after just half an hour as we continued our fine form.

Our only away game saw us travel to Suvorovo where we smashed them four nil and kept on track for a possible second place finish. Stankev took the match ball home after putting us infront after twenty minutes and grabbing his second just five minutes later. Second half Zehirov made it three nil before Stankev made it four from the spot as he secured his hatrick in a fine showing.

We ended the month back at home welcoming Septemvri and recording a two one win to end the season on a high. After just two minutes Lyubenov put us ahead before Pivaty ended the season on a high by doubling our lead. We conceded in the second half but held on to the win...But was that enough.


Promoted! I thought we would of gone into a playoff but this message came in the last game of the season and we would be going straight up with no more matches to play. This has done wonders for us and we can already begin to look forward to next season in the top division/


Since I took over a couple months ago I have barely moved from third place and I've always targeted second place. Come the end of the season we managed to end up in the targeted second place and despite expecting a playoff we actually will be going straight up. Vidima-Rakovski lost twice in their last four, including one to Lokomotive (Sofia) which saw us jump them with our perfect month!

Fair play turning down the AA Gent job and now the Lierse job! Not as much as a whimp as I thought! Better month there mate!

Didn't even think of that Cheik! However that is my aim, should we get out the division this year!

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April was the penultimate month and it was a fantasticly huge month for us. We faced no less than eight games in just four weeks which saw us playing a game every three or four days! With pressure on us to jump to second and pressure to keep fitness up this was a month of rotation and aims.


The penultimate month began at home as we welcomed Neftohimik and recorded a narrow win in a nine goal thriller. We were behind after nine minutes and two down in twelve as we looked poor. Just after the half hour mark Pivaty pulled one back for us before we went three one behind. We made it three two before the break as Adzovic netted. After the break Zahirov leveled things for us. We finally took the lead when Pivaty made it four three and then sealed his hatrick fourteen minutes from time making it five three. We conceded another in the last ten minutes but held on to the narrow five four win.

A bit of a quieter game was due when we traveled to league leaders Lokomotive (Sofia) and we played very well but failed to make our chances count. We conceded a second half goal as we fell further behind the league leaders in a close one nil defeat.

Back at home we welcomed fourteenth place Spartak (Plovdiv) and once again not taking our chances cost us. We were behind in the first half despite dominating and we pulled one back after the break with Pivaty netting but we fell to just a single point.

Halfway through the month we faced Svetkavitsa away from home and finally returned to winning ways. Zehirov got things on the go after just seven minutes before we waited seven minutes from time to add the second, once again it was Pivaty who netted for us.

At home we welcomed second place Vidima-Rakovski and a win could of seen us jump them. However a n equal performance from both sides saw it end level. Pivaty once again on form for us to give us the lead before we conceded in the second half.

We then fell to a heavy defeat against Kaliakra despite taking the lead. We were ahead after nineteen minutes through...yes Pivaty. But two goals from the host in the second half was enough to secure them the win and treat us another harsh lesson of football.

As we welcomed Sliven 2000 we managed to return to better form as we smashed five goals in at home. Kamburov gave us the lead after twenty three minutes to give us a one goal lead at the break. Second half we dominated and Zehirov doubled our lead before he netted his second and our third. Chervenkov made it four nil before Pivaty got on the score sheet to make it five nil.

We ended the month with back to back wins as we traveled to fourth place Pirin and continued to open the gap up on them. A close game saw us take our chances to win the game. Pivaty netted after just eight minutes to guide us into the lead before Dimitrov doubled our lead six minutes from time to end April on a high.


Lokomotive Sofia are confirmed as league champions two games aga as they now sit eighteen points ahead of second place Vidima-Rakovski and are twenty one points infront of us as they've just ran through the league this year. We have cut the difference on Vidima-Rakovski as we sit just three points behind them now however our poor goal difference means we need them to slip up twice in the last four games really.

Unlucky not winning the league mate but a fantastic cup win nonetheless!

Still in fine form in the league buddy, unlucky in the europa league though mate!

Unlucky against Chelsea but two good wins, not really sure how you've done so well and are set to win both cups as well as the league!

Very tough month however Hernan Crespo finally has his first goal!

Big blow with Lennon buddy! And with Parker out too you got some tough decisions to make!

Always good to win the derby and with such a late goal it must of felt even better!

May have jinxed you a little. Sure it will come together or a more appealing job will come available!

Glad you didn't resign. Not under pressure are you?

Wow thanks Benniewijs! Its always nice to find new followers and I appreciate you going through and reading! We certainly have a 'gleeming' trophy cabinet and will constantly look to improve that!

Miimaa it took a fairwhile to find a job but as you said finally I return to management and with a very nice job indeed. Second place is what I am aiming for however we won't give up on a shot at the title till the very end. The top spot isn't a miracle, its something far more which I can't think of a word for

Then I will fail Shedender, however you would enjoy that! I'm glad I didn't take the deadend jobs! This is promising here if not this year then next!

BOWC we will take what we can! First or second I will be happy with as long as we compete. I would be slightly annoyed if we miss out this year but it would give me a stronger chance next year!

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So here it was, I was about to take my first few steps into Bulgaria and the football here and it was another exciting country to add to the list. With Etar sitting third and six points off second place, a massive eighteen off the title it would be hard to reach the boards high expectations of winning promotion. But my opening five games shows the fighting spirits inside this club!


Life in Bulgaria began with a trip to Chavdar and immediately we were on the front foot as Pivaty netted after just five minutes. However before the break a strong attack from Chavdar saw them level. Second half we went on to play good football and give me an opening win to my reign. Stankev doubled our lead nine minutes after the restart before Pivaty doubled his tally and a last minute goal from Gudzhev secured a four one win.


My first appearance at home in charge of Etar saw me also hit another milestone. Only my second game in charge in Bulgaria saw me hit game number three hundred and despite the huge milestone I failed to get a second win. A nil nil draw was written all over the game as we ended level.

Back on the road we traveled to Lyubimets and recorded our first defeat in my reign. A poor showing from us saw us slip to the narrow one nil defeat and we didn't really warrant a point.

Back at home welcoming Chavdar (Troyan) we picked up all three points once again. Kamburov gave us a strong lead and two minutes later we found ourselves two goals to the good when Zehirov doubled our tally. Five minutes before the break we confirmed the win as Adzovic netted our third and final goal.

We ended the month in good fashion as we traveled to relegation threatened Dobruzha and recorded back to back wins with a narrow two one victory. We slipped behind after just seven minutes but moments before the break pulled level as Gadzhalov made it one a piece. Moments after the restart we managed to snatch the lead and all three points as Stankev nodded home.


The title race itself is almost out of the picture as we sit eighteen points behind league leaders Lokomotive (Sofia) with twelve league games to go. Sure its doable but the form they are in we would need a huge slip up. Second place we have knocked a point off as we now sit just five points behind Vidima-Rakovski and should be able to catch them. A strong start to my reign here.

Your drawing a lot of games which means your picking up points but I don't think it will be enough this season, just about building for the next year surely? However your remaining with just one defeat in two months so it could be getting there!

Fourteen points clear in December says alot! I think the title could be yours come March! Great five nil win to end off the calender year too!

Thanks mate! A good revie

Excellent report Rick! Possibly the best run down on LLM I have seen! I've always enjoyed LLM as it gives more a challenge rising from a nobody as mamager and club and seeing what you can actually do! May I just add a section in, feel free if you want to copy and paste it into yours:

Friendlies

So when you arrive at the club there should already be a certain amount of friendlies already set up and on your first day in charge you are often asked if you wish to have a game against your reserves behind close doors. This is always good as it allows you to try tactics on your main squad and your reserves should you click to take charge of them to for this and can see a whole range of players other than your original 'main XI'.

Along with this as I said are a range of friendlies and these are usually spaced out. Whenever I play LLM saves I look into arranging 'big' friendlies to try and earn a little more income. So try and arrange some either at home or more realistically away from home to get a share of the money they make. This brings in extra revenue!

However be careful! Big games against big teams may earn you a fair share of the money but your team morale may be 'hugely' hit. I never arrange back to back big games however will organise a two or three over the pre season period as the financial gain will be graet. It helps to organise a few little games to so you can play some attacking football and get underneath the goals yourself!

I do hope this isn't the end pal, but I understand with the whole 'FMC' problem. It does annoy me to!

Would be good to see you add Kyle Walker to the list buddy and potentially shawcross, fantastic looking england side for you!

A much better month mate, great to see you begin to climb the table now!

Your going to be writing more managerial sackings then match reports at this rate! Hahaa fantastic still though!

Tough point against Wigan but conceding goals so late on is always a killer, another excellent report

Ah you lost a game! Your rubbish! Boooo!

Just joking, fantastic league run still mate and reaching the FA cup third round is huge for your finances!

Ha Thanks Miimma!

Shedender it was pointless leaving as Bulgaria wasn't even loaded and plus I had to remain unbeaten till the end of the season now didn't I!

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Following what can only be described as a thrilling end to life in Belgium remaining unbeaten with Antwerp I boarded the plane to Bulgaria. However life wasn't going to be easy over there and despite my growing reputation, I struggled to find a job. I touched down in Bulgaria on the first of July 2022 however I have only just found a job now and we sit in


Deep into the season this is the first job that became available. Etar parted ways with their manager Tsvetanov who had been in charge for ten years. Etar currently sit in the lowest playable division and were expected to walk the league, still a harsh departure but it seems that he did actually decide to leave rather than be sacked. However it won't stop me hunting for the job.


As usual I didn't wait around and with this being the first job which has came available in almost nine months I thought I had to go for it quickly. Almost immediately I declared my interest in the post before applying and to my joy Etar were more than interested in my services too. Things were starting to look a little brighter here in Bulgaria, however we were still awaiting the contract offer.


And they provided one within a week of me applying for the job, but then someone with the growing reputation I've got should be offered the deal. Initially they offered me a three year deal on four hundred and twenty found pounds per week, I swiftly changed this to four hundred pounds per week because of some OCD! A small transfer budget available which I won't dive into now and plenty of wages spare to improve next year should we not get the finish we want. As you can see the board want promotion from the "B" PFG which will be a little tricky.


But despite them wanting immediate success I couldn't turn the deal done and after of searching for a job for eight months here in Bulgaria I am finally off the dole and able to pay for my weekly rent for my one bedroom flat. Now I am manager of Etar and will look to get to work here at the club immediately!


Here are the current standings in the "B" PFG so far this season and at the half way stage Etar are sitting up in third now but are someway off the pace of league leaders Lokomotive (Sofia). Although we are predicted to win the league we will search for second spot and try our luck in the playoffs as I feel the sixteen point gap that separates us from the top will be too hard to get back now!

A downright awful start to the season. Things better pick up or your looking at getting the boot pal...

And we wouldn't want that!

would we?

So your playing this on '12 yer? Best of luck anyway mate!

We certainly are off to Bulgaria now BOWC!

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Following three good years here in Belgium it appeared everything was rounded up and it was time to move on. However first I had to step down from my current position here at Antwerp so I though before I moved on to Bulgaria I would do a quick run down of my history since taking the challenge on back in Austria as well as show you the league starting date for Bulgaria.


After being in charge for just 210 days here at Antwerp I was already set to say goodbye and so early on. However I took them from fourth to top and stayed unbeaten whilst I was here in charge. With twenty two games league games played with me in charge we won eighteen and drew the other four including back to back careless draws at the end of the season. Netting forty seven and conceding just fourteen can't be snubbed. An 81% win ratio is wonderful at any club. Not sure why it says I have two promotions at Antwerp but I can assure you its only one promotion with the league win.


And with that rounded up, after just two hundred and ten days in charge I bidded the players and fans farewell whilst handing my resignation into the board who were sad to see me go following me achieving the promotion they've been expecting for the last three years. Whilst they will now search for a new job, I will hop on a plane and fly to Bulgaria to take the next step.


Here are my overall career statistics and since starting in Austria and currently ending in Belgium this far, we are now heading for Bulgaria however thought it was a good time to review this. We've played two hundred and ninety eight competitive games now whilst winning one hundred and eighty three, drawing fifty eight and astonishingly losing just fifty seven. We've scored five hundred and seventeen goals, conceding three hundred and twenty two leaving us with a goal difference of plus one hundred and ninety five. An average win percentage of sixty one percent goes well with our cup and league trophies all accounted for.


As I said, Belgium is now one and dusted I will remove it shortly and head over to Bulgaria which will be playable in just a months time. Luckily despite loading it late it won't wait a year to come into play meaning I can get straight onto the job hunt when I tough down in Bulgaria!

To The Next Step...

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Here it was, the final month and final four league games for us to compete with and with the title already secured and under our belts we were just playing for pride, oh and to continue the unbeaten run I've been on since setting foot in Antwerp. Just four league games to play in April and we wanted to make a solid note to finish on!


We began April not only with the title under our belts but with a trip to Waasland and came away with a narrow win with a young side showing strength. The only goal came after thirteen minutes when debutant Benali struck his first senior goal for the club to secure the win.

We recorded back to back wins in April as we welcomed Turnhout and for the second game running recorded a 'narrow' victory. A second half goal with twenty six minutes left on the clock from Gamiz was enough to secure the three points once again.

We then slipped up a little as we traveled to FCV Dender as we were held to a draw. We began the brighter side with Colin netting early for us but a second goal came in the second half and unfortunately it went Dender's way as we slipped to a single point.

We ended the month and season on a sour note as we slumped to back to back draws for the first time since I took charge. A goalless draw wasn't the ideal ending to the season but it meant we had stayed unbeaten since I took over back in November.


The league season has now closed and after thirty four league games we come out on top with a massive twelve point advantage on closest rivals Westerlo. They earned a playoff spot as did Lokeren in third, they are joined by OH Leuven and a side from the Jupilar League, however all that matters is...We are champions and I can now look forward to taking the next step!

Thanks Zan! It looks like I took the move to Antwerp spot on time and now we are surely on the verge of securing the final trophy here!

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We headed into March already fourteen points clear and I have still not lost in charge here and hopefully I can see it out for the remainder of the season now. It won't be easy but thats the main objective along with the league title of course. We only faced three league games during March but would still be looking for maximum points from then and increasing our unbeaten run.


Despite winning the last twelve on the bounce we finally stumbled upon a draw as we traveled to promotion chasing Lokeren in our only away game of the month. A close game saw us behind at the break but come back through Serqy twenty minutes into the second half! A fantastic performance to snatch a point.

However we didn't take long to return to winning ways as we welcomed another promotion chasing side in Union SG. Another tough game for sure and we claimed the three points right at the death. Despite it looking like a goalless draw in form striker Swennen snatch a win with two minutes left on the clock with a low finish.


And finally we had won it. With what I believe is our fifth four one victory this season we secured the league title in a thrilling game. We took the lead through Swennen after eighteen minutes before he doubled his and our tally ten minutes later. Laine made it three before the break as we took full control of the game. Second half we conceded ten minutes in but another ten minutes down the line we had wrapped up the three points and the title as Serwy struck from close range to wrap up a four one win.


Champions! This means the last trophy is now ticked off but of course I will see it out till the end of the season as we have just four games remaining this season. With fourteen points separating us from second place Westerlo now there was noway they could catch us as they go on to search for a playoff spot through the league now. We are wrapped up here and now just focus on remaining unbeaten through my stint.

However I am yet to upload Bulgaria as I wasn't expecting to do it this quickly so there could be some time before it becomes active.

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Another four league games were up for grabs in February and we looked to go right at it with the form still on top. We went into the month of love with an eleven point gap at the top of the table. We must keep the pressure on though or we could let slip of the title.


Our month started away to Aalst and we had to come back from two down to secure a win. We conceded after just thirteen minutes and after thirty three minutes we were two behind. Second half started well as De Wit pulled us back in it before Laine made it two all and all to play for. We went on to wrap up the win as Aafjes netted with twenty nine minutes left on the clock to secure the win.

We welcomed Tienen and once again we had to come back in the second half to go on to win. We conceded moments before the break but five minutes after the restart we were back level as Van Belle pulled as back in it. We went on to win it as Swennen nodded home the winning goal just two minutes from time. This proved to be my tenth competitive win on the bounce.

As we traveled to Tournai we recorded our fourth four one victory since I took charge here a few months ago. Van Belle had a stormer and got us off the mark after just twenty minutes. Five minutes later an own goal saw us double our lead. Second half Ven Belle made it three nil before securing his hatrick and our fourth. We conceded moments before the end but we were already winners.

We ended the month at home against Eupen. And we made it twelve wins on the bounce as we continued unbeaten ways since I took charge. Colin put us infront five minutes before the break as we showed our fine form. We ended the match as we netted a fine second with Serwy netting two minutes after the restart.


We are almost across the finish line now! Following another perfect month from us with four wins from four we are now up to fourteen points clear at the top and almost there on securing the title. Westerlo have a battle on their hands now as they try to fend off a challenge from Aalst with the same points whilst Lokeren, Union SG and Waasland all on the verge of coming up to second.

Not too bad buddy, its all about finishing this season off and improving for the next one now!

I will never fail to win this league now Shedender! Your words will only spur me on!

It sure is BOWC!

I can't wait Miimaa! Bring it on!

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With the winter break done and dusted and myself still not having a defeat under my belt here at Antwerp, we headed back to competitive action and that saw us face three league games. This would see period two come to an end and period three begin. However with period two ending we have already secured the playoff spot.


The month began at home with a tough battle against playoff secured side OH Leuven. Sure to not be an easy tie prove to be the exact opposite. We took the lead after just two minutes through de Wit before we waited till the second half to double our lead as Swennen netted from the spot. We secured a third goal late on as de Wit went on to round off the scoring in fine form.

We then traveled to Tubize and our fine form just continued. Colin once again gave us the lead eleven minutes before the break. Second half we conceded and fell back level as it looked like we would slip up for the first time. However we weren't about to draw for the second time as Van Belle struck eleven minutes from time to secure the win.

We rounded off the month when we traveled to Westerlo. An easy game to end the month and we recorded our third four one victory since I took charge. Depuydt gave us the lead after sixteen minutes and it looked to be a quiet game. Second half we went on to dominate and de Wit doubled our lead two minutes into the second half. Swennen then netted a fine double in the last fifteen minutes to secure the win.


After twenty three league games we are beginning to run away with the title now. A fantastic start to my reign here sees me win ten of my eleven games in charge to date. We now open up an eleven point gap at the top of the table and with a very favorable goal difference the title is ours for the losing now. We've scored the second most whilst conceding the least, a fantastic season this far in.