Brandon M

Mark emerged from the ground still on a high from a fabulous team performance.
He was surprised to see a small group of reporters waiting close to his parked car. The post match process long complete and everyone else had headed for home.
Within a few steps of the door he had left the ground closing behind him he already new why the 3 reporters had waited so patiently for him.

"Mark is there any truth the rumour that you have been approached about the Newcastle job and this is the reason why you won’t sign a contract here"

"Mark, Glenn Roeder is under pressure and there are reports that the Newcastle Chairman has identified you as an ideal candidate to fill the post"

Mark gently maneuvered his way to the car trying to smile and ultimately say very little.
'No comment' wasn't going to satisfy anyone but there was no way he was going to dig a deeper hole for Glenn Roeder.
Mark got himself comfortable and as composed as you could when put on the spot. Opening the car window full allowing the journalists to gather round he replied, "Newcastle are a superb club, and obviously it is an honour for my name to be linked to such a prestigious team" "but that is all that it is gentlemen - a link but I can assure you there is no truth to the rumour as I am destined to be at WSM for the foreseeable future – contract or no contract"

A 'wisecrack' from the Western Mercury reporter followed asking him about the Exeter vacancy following the shock resignation of Paul Tisdale.

With tongue firmly in cheek Mark replied, "Exeter are a superb club, and obviously it is an honour for my name to be linked to such a prestigious team" "but that is all that it is gentlemen - a link but I can assure you there is no truth to the rumour as I am destined to be at WSM for at least the next 5 minutes before heading to Exeter....... and my home"

In truth Exeter was a decent club and a few months ago if they had of contacted him – who knows.
Ten minutes from home and a new ground sharing with the Exeter Chiefs rugby club to look forward to.
But he was enjoying the freedom that came with the WSM role and the relationship he had built with the players was growing stronger by the day.

Brandon M

How do you edit previous posts. I have noticed a few typo's and would like to correct them if possible.
I don't think they impact on the storyline but bug me.

Any feedback would be appreciated as I may speed up the actual game analysis.

Brandon M

Game 9 v Lewes away

A midweek match at league leaders Lewes would settle Mark’s mind. If they could compete then the team could well go into the end of season mix, if not a thumping could be on the cards. Lewes were playing some superb football and in the league looked untouchable.
Both teams unbeaten but the odds were against WSM. A frenetic first half ended one all but WSM were awarded a dodgy penalty duly dispatched by Sam Bailey. In all honesty it was more than they deserved. Post half time WSM came flying out of the traps and were winning within 4 minutes of the break. The 3rd goal failed to arrive but Lewes wilted under the pressure long before the final whistle. Mark and the coaches’ touchline dance at the end of the game however did not endear them to the Lewes crowd and earned all three a ticking off from the match referee.

Brandon M

Game 10 Basingstoke home and Game 11 Hayes away and Workington fa cup 2nd qlf round away

The atmosphere between Mark and Paul Bliss could be sliced with a blunt cake knife. No contract added to the daily gossip of the current WSM man moving on.
Mark was insistent this was not the case. He had played for ‘just one club’ – apart from being loaned out early in his career. He just didn’t move around.

Two miserable 1:1 draws in the league and a 2:0 drubbing at Workington did not help matters. Both league games were awful, with flat performances in both and there could be no doubt that despite remaining unbeaten the team was flattering to deceive.
Dropping to mid table from the heady heights of 6th was uncomfortable reading.

An 18-hour round trip to Workington sandwiched around WSM’s worst performance of the season concluded the month.
Mark’s almost constant linking to the Newcastle job was not helping confidence at the club. On the way home a couple of the lads had almost suggested as much and Paul Bliss made sure that these words had been hammered home.
The comments – why are you so bothered when you might not even be here tomorrow?

Brandon M

Game 12 Thurrock home 1:1 and Game 13 Bognor Regis 1:1 away

1300 fans turned up to see WSM turn over the leagues bottom club Thurrock.
But as in the children’s rhyme the three little pigs – they huffed and puffed and huffed and puffed and then…. their own house fell down.
Thurrock with nothing to show for an afternoon’s work hit them on a break in the 90th minute. The fireworks in the dressing room at full time would have done Walt Disney World proud but the players like Frank Bruno fighting Mike Tyson were on the ropes and struggling to keep up the pace demanded.

A fighting performance was required against fellow mid table Bognor – and this Mark duly got. Darren Hawkins landing a beauty of a right hook being sent straight off.
The team was coasting at the time with a lovely finish by Newbold giving them the lead early in the second half and justifying his remaining on the pitch despite an awful first half performance. 30 minutes of rear guard action only brought despair.

Brandon M

With WSM having a gap in fixtures until early November Mark gave the players a weeks holiday.

He himself took full advantage of the mid season break jetting to Florida for some sunshine. The warmth in the sun eased the pain in his knee and the long hot days gave him time to clear his mind and focus on his plans.

Paul Bliss couldn't believe his luck when Mark returned to work with a topped up tan, sunny disposition and in the mood to agree a contract to the end of the season with a one year extension depending on how the season panned out. Carolyn Smith, Mark's agent finalised the details.
Paul Bliss not one to shy away from media opportunities managed to get Mark a onto the local ITV Westcountry Football Tonight show where the announcement of a deal was made public.
Ian Holloway having a brilliant start to his Plymouth managerial career was also on the same show and had no end of fun at Mark's expense. They had played against each many times over the years but Holloway couldn't believe that Mark had fallen hook line and sinker for this 'old managerial larkey'

The players were **** a hoop and on return to training all appeared to work harder with morale certainly high. WSM was a great place to be at Halloween.

Mark knew that the team were still unbeaten in the league, mid table but still close enough to catch up with the league leaders Lewes if they could put a run of wins together.

Refreshed with an unexpected break the team were now ready to try to close the gap and to rise up the table.

Brandon M

Salisbury home

2000 fans turned up to watch WSM best performance of the season. A 5:1 win with Scott Walker and Marc Mcgregor both grabbing two goals a piece. Ben Kirk ran the show from midfield pulling the strings like a master puppateer and finished off proceedings with a goal chipped in from 30 yards.
Was this the same team that had limped to too many draws in recent games?

Mark paced the touchline with pride as his team delivered with finess the style of football not out of place at Stamford Bridge.

When the referee blew an end to proceedings the noise that erupted from the crowd would remain in the ears of the players for hours to come.

Brandon M

Yeading Home and Welling away

Following the thumping of Salisbury in the recent memory of the crowd it was no wonder 2200 turned up days later to see if the team could produce a similar result.
WSM were 2:1 into final stoppage time when Yeading broke away and stole a point. The groans from the crowd so different from the previous Saturday.

No one could deny the quality of Yeading's equliser but it was a sickening blow to a team who had worked so hard for the three points.

Welling away

Welling after a superb start to the season peaking at the pinacle were sliding rapidly down towards mid table. With Welling looking for a confidence booster the game was destined to be tight. Two early goals cancelled any creativity as both teams hung on for a draw. The late Yeading equaliser had cost WSM more than 2 lost points.

Still unbeaten but not closing the gap on any of the leaders added pressure onto the next two games - both away

Brandon M

Eastbourne - Away

A mom performance from Scott Walker graced with two well taken goals claimed the three points well before Eastbourne rallied to claim a consolation goal.

Eastbourne were second in the league and any neutral watching the game would have not begrugged WSM the win.

With other teams around them losing WSM had started to close the gap on the teams ahead of them. Lewes now 5 points clear of a pack of 8 clubs. WSM nestled in 8th were now not far off at the very least a playoff berth.

Brandon M

Mark's office was at the end of a long corridor. Over time he had got use to the noise of the building. He had learnt to recognise the sounds of foot steps and knew long before anyone entered his office just who was on the way.

It was Friday afternoon and before making the journey to Newport, Mark was reviewing his email.

He didn't recognise the foot steps coming along the corridor and glanced up to see who was entering the room.

A huge surprise to see Dennis Wise and Gustavo Poyet.

Hello 'fat boy' was hardly the most pleasant greeting Mark had received that day delivered but a quick reply in kind - hello 'small boy' hello 'gusty'

The three amigos spent the next hour or so chatting about their old Chelsea days and catching up on latest news. Dennis and Gustavo now at Leeds were on the way to Plymouth for an away game and seeing the sign to WSM on the M5 couldn't resist the opportunity to pop in.

The WSM players arriving to leave that afternoon for Newport were standing in the car park in wonderment.
The Leeds team bus full of recognisable stars waiting patiently for their manager and Assistant Manager to return from supposed toliet break at the services....

After a final joke had been shared the three old friends each boarded their own bus and headed separate ways.