retired_roxysunny101

"Mary! One Haddock please", shouted the waiter back into the old lady in the kitchen.

The young man in the suit looked slightly out of place in this small, family run harbour restaurant. Nevertheless it was the perfect place to get a feel for the town he sincerely hoped would be his home for the forseeable future.

"Good choice son, it's aff the boat this morning. Aye, Harmsworth is straight up that road, cut through the main square until you come to a big public park - that's where the Academy train, and Harmsworth Park is right beside there", the old rotund restaurant owner continued in a highland drawl.

"Thanks very much. I'm sure i'll find it", said the man doubtfully.

"What you heading up there for? You a journalist? We've had a lot of those recently - you know, considering what happened.

"Not exactly", answered the young man in the suit, "but I do have a meeting up there this afternoon, and hopefully i'll be sticking about for a while longer".

"Good, good. Well yer food will be with you in a wee bit", said the restaurant owner, before waddling off to prepare the meal.

The man in the suit took a drink of his beer and contempleted the day ahead. A day which could prove to be a very big one for his burgeoning career.

retired_milla0225

Well. Haddock in the very first line. This boy will go far. Good first post. Carry on.

retired_lrenfroe

Good starting post Mr. Ring Master :thup:

retired_roxysunny101

Two replies after my opening post. You are surely spoiling me Thanks for the initial feedback chesterfan2 and Liam =D - it is always very much appreciated

2 Months Earlier.....300 Miles South

The Executive board of the SFL (Scottish Football League) as well as Chairmen from the 30 SFL clubs had been in the main hall at Hampden for over two hours now. It was little wonder that they were taking thier time, after all this was a big decision, and one that would quite literally change the face of lower league football in Scotland.

"It simply cannot continue like this, you understand that?", the question was posed by the Chief Executive of the SFL and was directed across the room at the Chairman of East Stirlingshire F.C, Les Thompson, who looked forlorn.

The Chief Exec continued: "With all due respect, the plight of your club has turned the lower echelons of our game into a laughing stock. Granted, we do not expect silky, technically brilliant football matches at that level, but we do expect closely fought, competitive football - and your club do not give us that," he accused.

"But the question is: How can we remedy this - are there clubs ready to step up into league football?", the Stirling Albion Chairman, Peter McKenzie piped up from along the table.

"I beleive so. There are many clubs in the West of Scotland League, Midlothian, or in the Highland League who have the calibre of player and infrastructre to compete - and prosper, given an appropriate stage", The Chief Exec paused for emphasis before staring at Les Thompson, "Something that East Stirling have wholly failed to do."

After listening to his club being lambasted, the East Stirling Chairman felt it was time to speak up: "I firmly believe that my club still have the potential to progress, and I find it doubtful that there is a non-league club ready to take our place and achieve more than we would in the coming season", he began to rise to his feet to make his point, "We are a small club, with a loyal fanbase, but with the potential to grow - and I think you would be doing a dis-service to our fans, our players, and Scottish Football if you remove us and replace us with a team who, I am sure, will prove inferior!"

"Ok, I believe everyone has made the points they want to, so let's get down to the vote, a simple ballot. Tick 'yes' to eliminate East Stirlingshire Football Club from the SFL Division 3. Tick 'no' to let them retain thier place." With that, the 30 Chairmen and 9 SFL Board members looked at thier ballot papers......

Les Thompson looked nervous as the ballot were being read out, and rightly so, a demotion from the SFL would see the clubs best players and staff leave, see the fans dwindle away, and take away any hope 'The Shire's' faithful have of seeing their team compete in the big time. But the ballot had started well: 4 no's to 2 yes's. You could feel the nervous energy envelop the room. Ballot's continued to be pulled from the box: 9 more yes's, and 6 no's - the ballot was to close to call.

Even as a completely unreligious man, Les felt like saying a little prayer. 7 more yes's, 5 no's - the ballot stood at 18-15 in favour of the yes's. Every prson in the room was guilty of shooting glances at everyone else, trying to figure out which way the voted, trying to read how the ballot would shape up. The SFA Chief Exec continued to pull out the ballot papers: 1 Yes to 4 no's.

There were a few chuckles in the hall as everyone realised what this meant, with the ballot sitting at a Hollywood-esque 19 to 19 it all came down to the final pick of the 39 voters. All went silent as the SFA Chief Exec dipped his hand into the Ballot Box for the final time: "and the final vote is in favour of......yes. There was utter slicence.

"I'm so sorry, Les"

retired_roxysunny101

Back to the Present.....

The young man in the suit had eventually found his way to Harmsworth Park. It was a stadium certainly not lacking in character, it is famous for being built on a slope and the north end of the ground had no stand, just a huge grass embankment that many fans sit on - and on top of which you could park your car and watch the game from the comfort of your drivers seat. There are two small stands east and west, and the south end of the stadium was just more grass to stand on. The Nou Camp it wasn't, but everyone has to start somewhere.

The Chairman's office was kind of an portakabin in the corner between the east stand and the south standing area. Nevertheless the man in the suit - the protagonist of our tale - would have to treat this like an interview at trump towers, as he was fighting for the chance to do his dream job.

He walked up to the portakabin door and took a deep breath. He could just about see his own reflection on the large perspex door to the cabin, and he used that to adjust his tie - a snazzy little black and white number, he hoped the Chairman would appreciate the team colours. After another minute of composing himself he finally knocked on the cabin door.

"Yes?", came a voice from inside.

"H..h..hi, er, I mean, Hello. My name is William Struthers, and I'm here about the Head Coa, er, Managers position at your fine club?", Bill said, failing to muster up much confidence in his own ability.

"Ah yes of course, come in son."

retired_roxysunny101

Six Weeks Earlier........300 Miles South

Apologies if time travelling make anybody neauscous

After expelling East Stirlingshire FC from the SFL there were serious questions to be answered, questions regarding league structure, whether the league would be improved, and what this would mean for the coming season. But the most pertenent question was indeed the most obvious question: Who would take East Stirling's place in Division Three?

To answer that question the SFL decided to use a completely fair and random draw, attended and officiated by SFL, SFA, and SPL officials. It was a mark of the interest this shake up caused that the draw was even televised on BBC Two Scotland, displacing a scheduled episode of Countryfile!

The teams in the draw were made up of teams from the East of Scotland, West/South of Scotland League, and the Highland Football League. The draw would take the format of two different selections: First would be a draw to decide which league the team would be chosen from, immediately followed by drawing the team from that divisions pot.

The draw kicked off at 6.30PM as non-league teams from all over the country - from Brora to Lochee Utd - tuned in to find out if thier club would be launched into the (contextually) bigtime.

"Without further adu, let's get on with the draw, first of all we will decide which league our new SFL club will be taken from," said the SFL Chairman, who had a busy couple of weeks since we last saw him apologising to Les Thompson. He rustled his hands aound inside the glass vase before pulling out ball number 2. "The team will be selected from the Highland Football League".

There were a couple of cheers, mainly from the former Highland League participants, Peterhead and Elgin City. Indeed the Highland Football League does have a fine pedigree of providing good sides for the SFL, Inverness Caley Thistle are a great example, although they are obviously an SPL side now.

"Now we will draw the new SFL side from the Highland Football League pot", the SFL Chairman continued, as the more northerly sides in Scotland held thier breaths. "and we have number 18....", he said.

"Wick Academy Football Club"

retired_roxysunny101

Back to the Present Again....

"So then William-"

"Call me Bill", William interjected.

Gary Bradley smiled, "OK, Bill, what makes you think you are the right man to become the new manager of Wick Academy?", asked the Wick Academy Chairman.

Gary Bradley had been the Wick Academy Chairman for a good few years now, and he had not experienced anything like the media interest that has surrounded his little club since they were promoted to Scottish Division Three six weeks ago. There had also been plenty of interest in the vacant managers position since he decided to dispose of Ian Munro, under whose stewardship Wick Academy were perennial strugglers in the Highland League. He felt he needed a higher calibre of manager if Wick Academy were to keep thier pride in thier first SFL season.

The man Gary Bradley was now sitting across from was certainly a viable option. He had an impressive coaching career, the only worry was his lack of management experience. Bill Struthers CV consisted of coaching spells down south with Hereford, then Southend before moving up north and becoming coach at Livingston, then moving on to a position as Under-19's manager of Dundee United - all this and he was only 32 years old. He had glowing references from luminaries such as Paul Lambert and Craig Brewster. The question was: Could Struthers hack being the man at the top?

"Well, I have worked as a coach for a while now, as well as working as U-19's coach at Dundee United. I feel I have learned my trade and am ready to step into management on my own. I am a very ambitious individual, and have big plans for this club if you give me the opportunity", said Bill, growing in confidence.

Bradley seemed impressed by this answer, if a little sceptical of it's slightly rehearsed perfection: "That is good to hear. But we are a small club Bill. We have a Highland League squad, a Highland League budget, and a barely Highland League fanbase. There is every chance we are going to be humiliated in the coming season", said Bradley, with admirable realism.

"I realise it will be tough, and this coming season might be a bit of a learning curve", replied Bill, acknowledging Bradley's worries, "But, when everyone gets settled at this level I firmly beleive we can put Wick Academy on the map".

Gary Bradley was undoubtedly impressed with the self belief of this young man, and they spoke for another good hour about finances, players, fanbase, tactics and the town of Wick as a whole. After the interview Gary Bradley had a good feeling about Bill, but he had seen plenty of outstanding candidates, and he had more to see. It remained to be seen whether or not Bill Struthers had done enough to get the job.

retired_jgirl87

believe, not beleive // their, not thier

Other than that, the premise looks good and you have certainly taken your time setting up the story. Good luck. :thup:

retired_roxysunny101

ta Mr Spav

7.00AM. It was the third morning in a row Bill Struthers had been woken up by the shrill cry of seagulls. He was trying to see the charm of it, but as he stumbled over to the sink to brush his teeth, he was struggling.

Today was a big day for Bill, and to physche himself up for the challenges ahead he decided to have another read of his favourite newspaper article from recent times. It was from 2 days ago, and he knew he was being self indulgent by reading it again, but what-the-hey - it was 7.00AM, he was living in a B&B, he hadn't had his morning coffee yet, and he had just been abruptly awoken by marauding scavinger birds. He deserved a pickmeup.

Bill smiled and began to read:

"Better than any espresso", Bill said to himself, putting down the newspaper, before slipping into his tracksuit and heading out for a jog to clear his head.