Media Prediction: 11th (of 18)

Board Expectation: Challenge for the title

As I had a few players I deemed not good enough when I took over whose contracts ran out at the end of last season, I gadly let them look elsewhere. This would free up some much needed wage budget to bring in some reinforcements.

Not the start to the season I had expected. I had some fantastic results in pre-season but this never carried over to the league. I am still to win a game in the league, the only win I’ve had has come in the League Cup.

10 league games in, still haven’t won a game and out of both cups. Now the media are suggesting I’m going to get sacked after I lose my next game. Let’s hope I can inspire my team to a result. I managed to lose the game 3-1 after going 1-0 up, but I still have a job… for now.

A change of tactics and a change of luck, I tried a new tactic and managed to win my first league game of the season in 12 attempts, I just hope it doesn’t take another 12 games to earn my second win.

That win was to be the start of a nice little run of 4 wins on the bounce. A 5th wasn’t to be as I got beat 4-3 away to Cefn Druids. This resulted in me losing my job so off I trot to the job centre again.

Final Position:

16th P16 W4 D5 L7 F17 A24 Pts17

Loosemores League Cup:

Group Stage – 3rd in Group D

Welsh Cup:

3rd Round v Port Talbot L2-0

Players In:

7 for £0

Players Out:

15 for £300

1 on loan.

Staff In:

2 coaches for £0

Staff Out:

2 coaches for £0

Welshpool sacked me in December and I was out of work until April. Aberystwyth’s manager was insecure so I declared my interest. They sacked him (and denied they had a replacement lined up – nice touch SI) and then approached me the same day!

Looking at the clubs fixtures there was 2 games left, the last league game of the season and the Cup Final, bonus! In charge for less than a month and I could win my first piece of silverware.

The only league game I had to play saw me draw 1-1 with Connahs Quay. So only the cup final to go. I took the game to Caersws going 2-0 up early on. They pulled one back only for me to score 2 more before half time. 4-1 up and cruising. I managed another goal in the second half and won the match 5-1. I was ecstatic. 

New to the job and already a piece of silverware was mine, happy days! This also meant I would be playing in Europe next season.

Despite the cup success the squad looks very poor. It would seem I have about 4 excellent players a few average players and quite a few poor ones. Time to put the scout to work!

Final Position:

15th P34 W6 D16 L12 F36 A47 Pts34

League Cup:

Knocked out before I took charge

Welsh Cup:

Winners v Caersws 5-1

Players In:

1 for £0

Staff In:

1 scout for £0

Staff Out:

1 scout for £0

1 Physio for £0

Media Prediction: 12th

Board Prediction: Safe Mid Table

The first game of the season would be European competition, the 2nd Qualifying round of the Europa League. I was drawn against Greek side Ergotelis. The first leg was at home and after going 1-0 up we succumbed to a 4-1 defeat which was pretty much to be expected. The 2nd leg soon arrived and I didn’t hold up much hope. We lost 1-0 and went crashing out at the first hurdle which was to be expected anyway, I was never in a position to challenge.

At the start of the season I decided to get rid of all the deadwood, all the players who were out of contract in the summer I didn’t deem good enough (which was all of them) I let go. This would prove to be a mistake as it now meant my first team only had about 7 players.

To make matters worse every time my scouts found a player good enough to sign they would always go elsewhere. It would seem I am now bringing in players no better than the ones I let go. I can see an uphill struggle this season!

The season was definitely a game of 2 halves. In the first half we could score goals but we could also concede them too. It didn’t help with me losing my star DC for a good 3 months or so to injury. Every time he made a return he would pick up another knock, so I decided to leave him out for a few games and bring him back gradually.

It seemed to do the trick as during the second half of the season my defence finally came good and we stopped conceding goals. We lost the first game of January but then didn’t lose again until the last 2 games of the season. This amazing run led to a charge up the league where I finished 6th.

I don’t normally follow previous clubs, but I thought it of interest that my former employers, Welshpool, won the league and it would seem that the spine of their squad was players I brought in for them.

Final Position:

6th P34 W15 D9 L10 F68 A38 Pts54

League Cup:

Qtr Final v Cefn Druids L1-0 AET

Welsh Cup:

3rd Round v Port Talbot L3-0

Players In:

13 for £0

Players Out:

8 for £0

Staff In:

1 scout for £0

1 physio for £0