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#513989 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
Full update on the way later today, but as you can assume it has gone relatively well across the early stages.
#513914 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
Thank you!
I thought that too, it does look lovely. Perhaps not the safest for referees though?
#513905 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
I've decided to stick with Khimik for their maiden Premier League campaign.
I'm not fully convinced with the squad/resources at my disposal, but I want to stick with the club and try to keep them up in the top-flight - don't want to let the fans down either, it naturally wouldn't feel right deserting them!
Next? 1 July 2025 (hopefully)
#513832 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
It is, great fun experiencing all the different leagues.
I'm warming to the idea of staying put, probably going to see how the off-season goes in terms of signings/departures.
#513760 The Pompey Chimes
TinakoFM
Good luck at Fratton Park!
#513758 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
#513724 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
Thanks, @Dan! It was nice to get that promotion, thought we may have messed it up in September/October - thankfully not.
You did? That's cool, how'd you get on?
#513681 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
Above is how my first, and perhaps only, campaign in charge of Khimik concluded. Promotion to the top-flight was secured on the final day.
My reign started like a house on fire, as I won three of my first four league matches whilst scoring goals aplenty. However, the 'new manager bounce' wore off quickly as we followed that beginning up with just one victory in six games across September and October. Thankfully we regained form in the final month, going unbeaten against Belshina, Naftan and Volna - that 2-1 win away from home against promotion rivals Naftan was massive.
The players have warmed to me very nicely, while the board are obviously buzzing to have achieved the club's first-ever promotion.
I haven't yet decided if I'm going to leave yet, I do have one further year left on my contract but, as noted, I'm not confident this team is ready for the Premier League. As such, it might be best to depart for a new job and let someone else take them over - potentially someone with Belarusian Premier League experience, anyone know the Belarusian Sam Allardyce?
Thank you for reading!
Next? Decision Time
Current Manager Profile:
Career Recap:
Job 001, 2019–2021:
Job 002, 2021:
Job 003, 2022–2024:
Job 004, 2024–:
Awards/Trophies:
With Limerick:
Club: 2022 End of Season Play-offs (pic)
Personal: 2022 Manager of the Year (pic)
With Khimik:
Club: 2024 Promotion (pic)
#513679 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
I agree with you there, I think the positive dressing room was the only reason they didn't sack me in 2023.
It could just be a flying visit to Belarus, but not a bad memory to have if I do leave so soon.
#513670 Another shot at redemption.
TinakoFM
#513669 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
I almost took a different job, but waited around for a few more weeks and was fortunate enough to get Khimik mid-season on the way to promotion.
#513638 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
PROMOTION!
Despite dropping points on the final day, Khimik will be a Premier League team in 2025 - the first time they have ever left the First League.
Second promotion of the save.
A shame not to win the title, given we were just two points off Smorgon when I joined, but I'm delighted with promotion. However, I'm not confident this side is good enough for the top division nor do they have the resources to improve, which isn't great especially given three of our best players are only on loan. As such, I might actually leave the club shortly. I haven't decided yet.
full post up tomorrow, along with my decision as to whether or not to remain in Svietlahorsk.
#513635 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
It's been a messy race to the finish, which I'll share in full soon, but we've managed to remain 2nd. Smorgon have run away with the title, while Naftan are out of the race for the top two. It's left for us, Khimik, and Lida to fight for the second and final automatic promotion spot.
We visit sixth place Volna, while Lida host thirteenth place Orsha.
#513610 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
That's how it ended with Limerick. You can see why I was sacked, we simply couldn't find any consistency throughout the year and evidently still suffered a hangover from our dire relegation campaign in 2023. I could've ended 12 June 2024 with a trophy, but instead I found myself out of a job - one I thoroughly enjoyed, despite the up and down nature of it.
So, from Lisburn Distillery to Basingstoke Town to Limerick. Where next?
I'm off to Belarus!
Khimik in Svietlahorsk have given me a job. They are in the Belarusian First League, the nation's second tier, and are in the midst of a title race. I come in with the club in 2nd, just 2pts off current leaders Smorgon and 2pts ahead of third place Naftan. Three promotion spots are available, the top two go up automatically while 3rd and 4th enter the play-offs. According to the club themselves they're over-performing, while the media predicted them to finish 4th. 17 league matches have been played, with a further 13 left to fulfil.
Can I get the club into the Premier League? It would be my second career promotion, following on from Limerick in 2022. I'd like to think so, but you just never know in football.
Current Team: Khimik (Belarusian First League) | Honours With Them: 0
This Season's (2024) Expectation(s): Win promotion
Overall Team #: 4 | Career Honours: 0
Khimik were founded in 1971 and are based in Svietlahorsk, which is situated in the Gomel Region. Their name, according to Google Translate, translates to "Chemist" - with previous names apparently including "Wallet", "Builder", "Drillers" and "Kommunalnik". They play in the First League as mentioned, and have interestingly never been relegated or promoted from the division since its foundation back in 1992. Both impressive and unimpressive, that. Their best-ever finish in the second tier came in 2008 when they placed 2nd, which wasn't enough for promotion back then. They have no honours to their name.
In-game, Khimik have continued to remain in the First League - securing 12th, 7th, 14th, 11th and 9th in the seasons since 2019. No trophies, as you'd guess, have been added. With all that said, it is a surprise to see them 2nd at this current moment. Nikolay Mylnikov, their previous manager, did a terrific job prior to returning to his homeland with Sokol in Russia. Can I carry on his good work?
Journey So Far!
Thank you for reading!
Next? 23 November 2024! (hopefully)
Current Manager Profile:
Career Recap:
Job 001, 2019–2021:
Job 002, 2021:
Job 003, 2022–2024:
Job 004, 2024–:
Awards/Trophies:
With Limerick:
Club: 2022 End of Season Play-offs (pic)
Personal: 2022 Manager of the Year (pic)
#513471 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
My time with Limerick has come to an end. The board meeting, evidently, went poorly. I probably needed to suck up to them more to get a points target, which I didn't - though I did ask for one more month.
Onto the next job, wherever that may be!
#513470 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
No shocks there. Better performance than expected tbh.
#513469 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
#513468 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
#513467 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
Great start lads!
#513466 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
Coming Next:
Just the second cup final of the save so far, I lost the last with Lisburn Distillery back in 2021. Can I win this one with Limerick in 2024? I'm not hopeful, given our form and the fact we face top division leaders Cork City. It'll be an almighty shock if we managed to secure the trophy.
#513461 The 'Worldwide' Win It All Journeyman
TinakoFM
#513418 Bring it all back to Blues
TinakoFM
#513400 The 'Worldwide' Win It All Journeyman
TinakoFM
https://youtu.be/04854XqcfCY?t=38
#513315 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
Current Team: Limerick (Irish First Division) | Honours With Them: 0
This Season's (2024) Expectation(s): Promotion by winning the league
Overall Team #: 3 | Career Honours: 0
Inconsistency costing us.
Things may be going better than last season in the top-flight, but my return to the First Division with Limerick hasn't gone all that well thus far. On 2 June 2024, we sit 4th after fifteen matches. The gap between us and top of the table, which is where the board want us to finish, is 14pts thanks to Finn Harps and Drogheda United running away together. We ain't finishing top, so the aim now is to finish in the play-offs. We're 3pts inside the play-offs spots at the moment. As mentioned, we've been so up and down this year. We've won games 4-1 and 6-2, but have also lost to strugglers Wexford and Galway United. Not good enough.
Our cup form has been slightly better. We've made it to the Munster Senior Cup final for the first time in my reign, though are unlikely to take the trophy given we face Premier Division leaders Cork City in June's final - who knows though. We beat promotion chasers Cobh Ramblers in the EA Sports Cup before succumbing to reigning top tier champions Waterford. The FAI Cup begins in August.
Five new faces have arrived. Cian Bargary (LM), Michael Cregan (FW), Peter Burke (GK), Sean Heaney (CB) and Magnus Elden (RB) came in, none have set the world alight though none have been dreadful either.
Eleven players departed, as we made £175k. Our best centre-back Cathal Buckley was signed by Dundalk for an unrejectable £100k, he was also moaning to leave beforehand. Dundalk also signed Bojan Bajic and Stephen Forde on free transfers. Young striker Daryl Coughlan was signed for £69k by Shamrock Rovers, who also paid £8.25k for the unproven youth player Conor Russell. Adam Chicksen, Will Hayhurst and Michael Kelly were released. The other outs were youth team members.
Here's how the board and players are feeling.
Thank you for reading!
Next? November 2024! (hopefully)
Current Manager Profile:
Career Recap:
Job 001, 2019–2021:
Job 002, 2021:
Job 003, 2022–:
Awards/Trophies:
With Limerick:
Club: 2022 End of Season Play-offs (pic)
Personal: 2022 Manager of the Year (pic)
#513314 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
#513308 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
#513306 A Turkish Delight
TinakoFM
Good luck!
#513290 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
#513285 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
You're not wrong! We just couldn't get out of that rut. I'm hopeful 2024 will go better.
#513235 [FM20] Earth Trip
TinakoFM
Dire, truly dire. I just couldn't get anything working with my tactics. In hindsight, perhaps I stuck with too many players from our First Division team. These things can happen though, that's football I guess.