Mike..

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | C | Pau | 38 | 22 | 10 | 6 | 65 | 29 | +36 | 76 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | P | Nîmes | 38 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 71 | 36 | +35 | 74 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | P | Valence | 38 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 64 | 43 | +21 | 74 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Sète | 38 | 21 | 9 | 8 | 71 | 44 | +27 | 72 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Tours | 38 | 21 | 5 | 12 | 64 | 38 | +26 | 68 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Cherbourg | 38 | 20 | 8 | 10 | 55 | 47 | +8 | 68 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Romorantin | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 61 | 49 | +12 | 62 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Besançon | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 72 | 54 | +18 | 58 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Libourne St-Seurin | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 60 | 54 | +6 | 56 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Wasquehal | 38 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 58 | 60 | -2 | 54 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Sannois SG | 38 | 16 | 6 | 16 | 65 | 63 | +2 | 54 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Cannes | 38 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 63 | 53 | +10 | 53 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Rouen | 38 | 15 | 7 | 16 | 54 | 61 | -7 | 52 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Croix de Savoie | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 44 | 51 | -7 | 47 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Valenciennes | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 58 | 71 | -13 | 47 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Racing 92 | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 49 | 59 | -10 | 44 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | R | GFCO Ajaccio | 38 | 11 | 7 | 20 | 48 | 71 | -23 | 40 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | R | Bayonne | 38 | 10 | 5 | 23 | 47 | 69 | -22 | 35 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | R | Roye | 38 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 39 | 99 | -60 | 16 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | R | Raon-l'Etape | 38 | 3 | 5 | 30 | 29 | 86 | -57 | 14 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

Mike..

There had been no celebration, no fanfares, in fact nothing at all when he’d taken the reins at the start of the season, and that was just the way Ed liked it. Now, with the manager facing the task of preparing for life in the professional leagues, sports writers from all over the south-west corner of the country were gathered for a press-conference. At first Ed had resisted the chairman’s idea but it made sense, he had to admit that – Monsieur Le Coadou had managed to get the various publications, and channels, to agree to keep interruptions to a minimum throughout the summer in return for access to the backroom staff for a couple of hours.

The chairman handled the opening statement and questions smoothly and professionally, he looked a world away from the nervous man that Ed had spoken with just a couple of weeks ago. That conceded Ed is why he is a successful businessman, and chairman of a football club.

Having accepted the opportunity that the future held for his club, Le Coadou no projected an air of confidence, of a man ready to grab that opportunity and make the most of it. No, he admitted, he didn’t expect another season of such success. Yes, he knew that work would be required and Pau would be a name appearing toward the bottom of next season’s table. Ed had to admire the man for his honesty, not once did he make rash promises, or doom-laden predictions, he simply told it how it was – Pau would take their place in the Second Division and make a damn good go of keeping it.

Now came the moment that Ed could’ve lived without, thanking those present for their patience the chairman handed to microphone to his manager. The questions were pretty standard fare, nothing from out of left field, and Ed did his best to answer them as honestly and openly as he could.

What were his thoughts on the season just passed?

I’m thrilled, obviously, and yes – a little surprised. Not by our commitment and hard work, but I can’t deny that we had our share of good fortune and results going our way.

What about the current squad?

Of course there will be departures, but not huge numbers and I’d be most surprised if any of the core team are not with us when the new campaign kicks off

Have you made any signings yet? Any names that we should look out for?

No new contracts have been offered as yet, I’m waiting until my scouting team get back to me. It’s early yet, I don’t have any target names but rest assured, as soon as anyone signs up then details will be released.

The questions went on for what felt like hours, but eventually Le Coadou called a halt to proceedings and allowed Ed to get back to his office and get on with the search.

shannon2007

Finally a table :p I like to compare

retired_emsta12

I think I may have figured out why I like this diary so much. Your writing style is similar to that of Danny Wallace, who wrote Join Me and co-worte Are You Dave Gorman?

In those books I loved reading about him and his girlfriend, and there are similarities between that and between Ed and his now ex-girlfriend.

Oh, and it's really good. Congratulations on promotion.

retired_jgirl87

Lovely stuff - a championship season brilliantly written up. :thup:

I hope that this continues for many more seasons to come. KUTGW.

Mike..

Cheers guys.

PM: I know what you mean about the table, the problem was that I'd played about 3 seasons before the patch - thankfully SI have now included the 'previous years' table feature so at least I can backtrack and give final positions for those seasons - in the future they will obvioulsy be more frequent

SP: I remember seeing a review of '....Dave Gorman' and thinking it looked like something worth reading - thanks for the reminder :thup:

Spav: Thanks a lot, and fear not for Monsiuer Allen has a good few seasons in him I think

Mike..

The next day, as Ed was working through stage one of his strengthening and rebuilding plan – current contracts – there was a knock at his office door. Before he could answer his secretary (a new appointment – Monsieur Le Coadou insisted that he had to have one now that they were heading for Division 2) opened the door and came in, a huge smile spread across her face.

“You have seen the papers?”

Ed hadn’t and he told he so

“Ah then you do not know – look at this, we are famous!”

Famous was maybe too strong a word but Ed could forgive her that, she was young and enthusiastic and it was probably the first time that it had really sunk in that she was working for someone who would be attracting media attention. Sitting in one of the chairs opposite Ed she proceeded to read to him the pertinent details for the post-season awards:

French National Star Player of the Season: Nicolas Cami (Pau)

French National Most Promising Player: Nicolas Cami (Pau)

Manager of the Season: Edgar Allen (Pau)

French National Stars Team: Cami, Millereau and Bédani

The only are that had eluded them was in the top goal scorer category, but that was of little concern to Ed – he asked Catherine to cut out the article form the paper and arrange for it to be framed. Of course they would receive some small trophy, or similar, but to Ed the newspaper article meant a little more.

That done he went in search of his coaching staff, they needed to sit and discuss half a dozen names that Ed had put question marks next to on his contract list.

shannon2007

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by flipsix3:
thankfully SI have now included the 'previous years' table feature so at least I can backtrack and give final positions for those seasons -_ <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Excellent I never knew that.

retired_manpk1

I'll just throw my congratulations into the ring.

Great achievment; now all you have to do is consolidate.

Which I'm sure you have done :eek:

retired_embartl

Indeed well done on the title. I'll pretend I'm not more secretly pleased that Villa won the Premiership ( ), and here's to future success in Pau, a town that until know I had only known for it's constant ability to go on strike every other day. Thank god for football :thup: