Emm

2014

The 9th of March 2014 to be exact, was the day my World fell apart. I had worked for Tony Kleanthous for almost 9 years and had seen North London minnows Barnet, transformed from a team used to either fighting relegation from the Football League, or fighting for promotion from the Conference, into a strong League One outfit, secure financially and with an excellent crop of young talent coming through the ranks. My years of loyal service went unrewarded as the rash decision to look to the short term rather than look at the bigger picture was taken by the North London club's board.

In hindsight, I can understand the decision. To be honest I hadn't been a great success at the club. My single success being gaining promotion via the playoffs during the 2010/11 season after a 4th place finish in League 2. They had been exciting times though. Even the play-off final went right to the wire, with us sneaking a 2-1 extra time win over Cambridge Utd. I didn't have too much success in the cups either. Three Semi-Final appearances in the LDV Vans Trophy South, being the furthest we would progress in any knock-out competition.

I prefer to remember the good times though. I did manage 3 awards for my troubles. English League Two Manager of the Month for March 2010 and January 2011 and also the surprise award of English League Two Manager of the Year (runner up) in that same season.

I have fond memories of some of the players that excelled for me during that time. Local lad Giuliano Grazioli turned himself into a local legend with 95 league goals for us before his legs gave way and he was forced into retirement. Current skipper Ismail Yakubu set a club record of 392 league appearances during my time there and ex Arsenal youth keeper Michael Jordan become the club record transfer sale just before my demise when I sold him to MK Dons for a whopping £2,000,000. Although I had secured the financial future of the club for seasons to come, it appears that at that moment, I lost the fans, the players and the board in that instant. Nobody would take into account that he was unhappy at not being allowed to move clubs and would have left on a free at the end of the following season on a free. Nobody noticed that I had secured the free transfer of ex Everton's ex England under 21 keeper Paul Jones and he would be arriving during the close season. He was 3 years younger than Michael and was desperate to play for us. I had money in the bank and traded one excellent, (although unhappy) player, in for one of similar if not improved ability, who was 3 years younger. Nobody could see it.

Nobody could see that players like 19 year old homegrown defender Ryan Robson was labelled the next Jamie Carragher and would be instrumental in the clubs drive for success. Nobody could see that 22 year old Paul Lowe and 25 year old Jordan Fitzpatrick were far superior to the rest of the league's midfield dynamo's. Nobody could see that in Steven Gillespie, Ramon Calliste, Peter Jones, Lee Smith and Anthony Stokes, we had a plethora of strikers who would score goals at a considerably higher level given the right service. Nobody could see it.

During my time at Underhill, I really only lost one player that I really wanted to keep. 18 year old Welshman Ryan Shawcross had signed from Man Utd in 2005 and made 235 appearances before leaving on a free at the end of the 2012/12 season. He had already notched up 15 senior caps and had become an instrumental part of a resurgent Welsh team. Maybe it was this that ultimately caused my downfall. Maybe I just didn't see it .

retired_mulberry

That is a sad, if not nerdy story

retired_curlgirl

:thdn: *tears rolling from my eyes*

Well, no need to keep worrying. Take on the challenge of another team and show Barnet they were wrong to give you the sack...

Looking forward to you making a story out of this as the first post was very promising...

Emm

Sad, definately . Nerdy, quite possibly .

At the time I was furious and I wanted to prove to Kleanthous, (and everybody else), that he had made a mistake in sacking me. The only way for me to do this was to gain success at another club.

Burton Albion and Southport of English Conference North were rudderless so I immediately offered my services. As were Grays Athletic, Halesowen Town and Eastbourne Boro of the English Conference South. I submitted an application for these jobs too and immediately started sounding out some ex Bee's about joining forces again.

Eastbourne Boro were the first to get back to me and I almost bit their hand off. I had already decided that I would prefer to stay in the South so it was going to be a choice between Boro, Albion and Southport anyway.

Boro were said to be okay financially but in reality are over a third of a Million pounds in debt. With a stadium capacity of only 2500, and pretty basic facilities to boot, It was a bit of a shock to the system. I had only 18 players on the books, 2 youth and 16 part time professionals. Only 2 or 3 look to have any life in them so It looked like it was going to be, 'All Change', at The Priory.

Peter Jenkins, a 23 year old midfielder looks like he might be able to do a job and strikers Scott Thyer, 27 (Welsh), and Yemi Odubade, 29 (Nigerian), also look to have enough about them to be worth sticking with. Yemi is already a club legend, holding the records for Club League appearances (395), and most Legue goals (166) and in fact needs only one more goal to make it a round 200 career goals. 'Yemi', has won the fans player of the year award in each of the last 8 seasons :eek:, but is under pressure from free scoring Thyer for this years accolade. Thyer has himself scored 156 goals in all competitions for Boro in the last 9 seasons. These are phenomenal stats. These two players had averaged a whopping 33.89 goals a season between them over the last decade :thup:. With this in mind I am astounded to see that the club had managed only two top 10 finishes in the league, (2006 & 2008). The most recent finishes were 17th, 15th, 19th and 16th. Obviously, goals have been flying in at our end, quicker than these two marksmen could bang them in at the other.

Boro currently sit 13th in Conference South, (10 points clear of the relegation zone), so it appears that I have some breathing space. It is my plan to use the remaining 9 games of the season to build up an idea of who can do a job next year. The priority is obviously at the back.

Emm

Thanks for the comments Turrhall and FC Beigem. I'll see if I can do something to cheer you both up.

I'm not making any promises though.

Emm

I pick the strongest team possible for our first League game, away to relegation threatened Billericay. Strongest possible it may be, but it definately cannot be called strong. 3 of the 18 players at the club are keepers so it obviously restricts my options. We have only two centre-backs at the club and 31 year old Kevin Hemsley is suspended, so straight away it's a case of square pegs in round holes. We control much of the game and take the lead through winger Paul Connelly's 6th goal of the season despite being down to 10 men after Scott Thyer was shown a second yellow card in the 35th minute. Billericay equalise with the last kick of the 1st half but I've seen nothing from them to indicate that we can't get a result, even with 10 men. The unlikely becomes the impossible 10 minutes into the 2nd half as Billericay take the lead while Yemi is lying unconscious in our penalty area after a clash of heads . Down to 9 players and already a goal down. We try to shut up shop and keep it respectable, but still concede a 3rd goal. To add injury to insult, midfielder Liam O'Neill doesn't finish the game as he also picks up a knock.

Yemi was kept in hospital overnight suffering from concussion and could be out for 2 weeks :thdn:. Thyer is suspended for the next match :thdn:. Evans is suspended for the next match, (at least), and will probably get an additional 2 game suspension :thdn:. I didn't even bother to appeal. From gloating that I had 3 decent strikers this morning, I now find that all 3 are unavailable for the next match. 17 year old James Clark looks like he could be set to play up front on his own in a weeks time against Grays. Unless I can add some reinforcements in the next 7 days, we will have some empty places on the bench.


Nigel Clough has followed in his Dad's footsteps and has been unveiled as the new Manager of Nottm Forest. Forest are languishing half way down League 2. Clough Jr has joined after spells at Burton, Lincoln and Wycombe (who he led to promotion from League Two).. He was obviosly prepared to step back down to return to his favourite club.

A number of ex Bee's and ex Boro players arrive on trial. I am desperate for some new bodies but I see in their faces that I am not as desperate as some of these players who are without a club. Centre-back trialist and ex Bee Byron Anthony becomes my first signing as he agrees a 1 year contract at only £95 per week. Byron played 91 times for Barnet in my time there and collected 4 Welsh U21 caps. At 29, he is unlikely to gain further representative honours, but should do a pretty good job for us at the back.

A short phonecall from Len Smith, (Chairman), advises me that he has had to cance the contract offer to Byron as the players wages would break the clubs current wage budget. What the hell ??? My wage budget is £2500 per week and my current total is £2709! They will allow me no additional money. My first reaction is to tell Len to stick it up his....... but I'm not at Barnet anymore and don't have the clout. I can either get on with it or get going.

Hang on a minute.......... £2700 divided by 18 players means that the average weekly wage for these players is about £150. That is ridiculous. [Penny drops]. Both Scott Thyer and Yemi are being paid £450 per week on only part time contracts That's far too much but they are the best players in the squad at least. 30 year old keeper Lee Worgan is being paid the same and is just not worth the wages of 5 players. He may have colected 2 Welsh U21 caps in his younger days but I must get him off the payroll despite his 360 odd appearances for the club. This is no time for sentiment. I've made him available for transfer and for loan and will accept any offers. He's got 2 years left on his contract as well. This boy has got to go.

There are no offers for Lee so I approach him about a mutual termination of his contract. We settle on a figure of £28K but at least it does release some wages for some new signings.

Despite my close relationship with some of the current Barnet players, I have trouble persuading any of the senior players to step down 2 divisions, even on loan. I suppose they want to stay and see what the new Manager is going to do. Phil Tait, (22) D/RLC has signed on a free from the Bee's and only cost me wages of £50 per week. Phil played 23 times for my old club after being released as a youngster from Chelsea. His versatility should prove invaluble. Another Bee to sign is Peter Graham, (22) ST. Peter signs on a loan until the end of the season and Tony Kleanthous has agreed to let us have him without paying any wages at all. Byron has been re-offered the same contract but still hasn't signed. He may have been put off my the financial situation and who can blame him .

Emm

16 year old N.Ireland keeper Andrew Wilson will come in and take over the gloves from the departed Worgan, and new signings Tait and Graham will both start too. My squad against includes 4 teenagers but at least I am able to field a full bench of subs :thup:.

Our first home game doesn't go well. Again we dominate the early exchanges but a straight red for centre-back Danny Cross, (professional foul, no complaints) , see's us once again short of numbers for the last half hour. Grays make their numerical advantage tell and score twice in 2 minutes late in the game. Phil Tait has a good debut at left-back and Peter Graham rattles the crossbar on his debut, but is also booked and picked up a late knock to add to my frustration :thdn:.

Peter Graham will be out for up to a month with a knee injury. Not what I wanted :thdn:.

The local press are critical of Phil Tait's debut performance. I'm not sure they were watching the same game and respond accordingly. Muppetts !

Byron Anthony has eventually signed and comes into the team away to Gravesend for the suspended Cross. Thyer has served his suspension and replaces the injured loanee Peter Graham. Yemi is touch and go but I won't start him even if he passes fitness test. I will use him late on from the bench. Gravesend currently sit 6th in the table and are fighting hard for a play-off spot. Kevin Hemsley will skipper the team from centre-half but I'm not sure he will be skipper next season. the position is definately up for grabs.

Two more ex Bee's arrive at The Priory. 21 year old centre-back Two more ex Bee's arrive at The Priory. 21 year old centre-back Danny Ingram, signs a 1 year deal at £70 per week. Darren came through the youth system a Chelsea, (with Phil Tait), before joining the Bees on a free and being released just before my tenure came to an end. Although he sometimes lacks determination, I believe he is better than the player we have, (and cheaper). Graham Jordan is a 20 year old left back who came through the Barnet youth system, but never managed to break into the first team.

Graham will be making his first senior start against gravesend on saturday, allowing me to move Tait into the middle of defence alongside Byron Anthony. 16 year old keeper Wilson is selected ahead of the more experienced Barton who has recovered from injury.

At the last minute I have decided to start with Yemi and drop Clark to the bench. I hate losing and am desperate to earn my first points for Boro. I don't get my first points as Gravesend prove way too strong in the centre of the pitch. They lead at half time through two set piece goals. First a header from a corner and then from a direct free kick, and increase their lead just after the break. I withdraw Yemi to save his legs and throw on Clark. Suddenly we are back in with a shout as Thyer grabs a quick brace bringing his season tally to 25 after good work from Clark for both. It's all to no avail as Gravesend break while we are looking for an equaliser and leave young Wilson with no chance. The back 4 did pretty well and I am loathe to criticise 16 year old Wilson so I won't. The real problem was the our midfield went AWOL and we only improved after the introduction of centre-half Ingram into the middle of the pitch. He may not be the most gifted of players and I have mentioned that he sometimes lacls determination, but compared to the makeweights I had on the pitch in the first half he played like Makele .

More bad news. Right back Matt Piper finished the game injured and could be out for up to a month with a thigh strain :thdn:.

The local paper again have a pop at the new signings. Anthony and Jordan this time on the receiving end of some pretty poor comments.

Emm

Experienced centre-back Chris Todd was due to sign on a free from Chelmsford today but once again the deal has been blocked by Len. Also blocked was the contract offet to another ex Bee Adam Birchall. Birchall has collected 11 U21 Welsh caps and 1 goal and would have been an excellent addition to the squad as back up to Thyer and Yemi. Todd would have added much needed experience at the back and can also play a defensive role in the middle of the pitch. Just what we need, but it is not to be :thdn:.


I've been told that the contracts of 5 players are due to expire in 3 months time. Striker Mark Evans is offered a new deal at half his old wage, as has full back Matt Piper. I'm not too bothered about O'Neill or Colgan but there is a name that I don't recognise :eek:. He's not on the team rosta and is not training with the rest of the squad. I can only assume that he has chosen to go AWOL completely. I have offered a new contract because he looks a good player. If he doesn't appear in the next few days I will have to take futher action .

March 2014 recap.

League Away. Billericay 3 Boro 1. Scorer, Paul Connelly. Red cards Scott Thyer, Mark Evans.

League Home Boro 0 Grays 2. Red card, Danny Cross.

League Away Gravesend 4 Boro 2. Scorer, Scott Thyer (2).

Finance : Loss of £28.5K :thdn:.

Emm

Could it be 4th time lucky?

16 year old keeper Wilson saves from the spot after left back Jordan had made a clumsy challenge in the area. The 0-0 draw at home to Lewes, gives us our first points since my arrival :thup:, but not the 3 that we deserved :thdn:. Our first clean sheet coincides with the first time that I play a back 4 that consists completely of ex Bee's. Tait and Jordan played at full back and Ingram and Anthony shored up things in the middle. Young keeper Wilson saved the only shot on target that happened to come from the spot and earned himself the MOM award in the process. We again looked lightweight in the middle and out wide didn't create enough for Yemi and Thyer up front. Still, it's a start.

Evans and Piper both refused my miserley offer of another contract. No surprise there .

Keeper Wilson was rotated and Seb Barton starts in goal. From clean sheet against Lewes to complete sheete ! against Chesham. Thank God we had that 9 point cushion when I took over. I really wouldn't have fancied getting the sack twice in one season . We decided to give our opposition a man advantage yet again. This time it was Darren Ingram who saw red for a professional foul to make it 4 players dismissed in my 5 games in charge . This time we played 11 v 11 for only 12 minutes before pressing self destruct. We obviously conceded immediately afterwards as well just to make things worse. Despite that, we went in at the break all square, after Yemi grabbed the 200th goal of his career . The commentator said that is was his 200th league goal but he was wrong. Still, 200 at all is pretty impressive when you are still only 29. We stayed level up to the hour mark before Chesham let loose and really just tore us apart :thdn:. It finished 5-1 but it really could have been many more. Seb Barton played a blinder in goal and still had to pick the ball out 5 times. I'm glad that youngster Wilson wasn't playing. I'm not sure he would have been able to recover from this. I'm finding it hard to get my head round myself. No wonder I was sacked from Barnet :kris102:.

So Ingram is suspended after his red card and Yemi is injured again. He struggling with a bruised rib and will be out for about 2 weeks :thdn:.

Emm

Boro 1 Welling 2. Again we dominate for most of the game, but 2 well taken goals after Mark Evans had given us a first half lead meant that we left with nothing. Time is running out and as every day goes by we are plummeting to the foot of the table . I keep saying to the players that the first win is just one game away, but in reality, I am almost at the point where I would sell my mother for a single point. A single point might be all that is in it come the end of the season. As for today, we were better than them all over the pitch. We just only scored one goal to their two :thdn:.

Hitchen v Boro. Yemi makes 400th league appearance for Boro It should be a day of celebration. Club legend Yemi celebrates reaching this milestone with a hat-trick that the teams efforts desserve. That's what should have happened :thup:. What actually happened is that we suffered an absolute drubbing :thdn:. 5-0 was the final score and the only positive that I can think of is that the only injury we suffered was to our pride :o.

Relegation is now becoming a real possibility. The teams below us are picking up points and we don't look like we could score against the youth team .

A win in either of our 2 remaining games should be enough to see us to safety, and if I'm honest, perhaps even a point might be good enoough. We've still got to roll up our sleeves and do it though. 1 point from a possible 21 during my tenure so far is not what I had in mind when I took over :kris102:.

Penultimate game Boro 0 Gloucester 3 :thdn:. Matt Piper playing on the right wing is shown a straight red to take our card tally to 25 yellows and 5 red in only 8 games :eek:.

Eastleigh 1 Boro 0 . Relegation. Billericay pass us on goal difference to relegate us to the Abyss :thdn:.

The nightmare has become a reality :thdn:. I'm going to be sacked twice in one season :thdn:. More importantly, I have destroyed Boro :thdn:. they deserved better.The players deserve better, the fans deserve better. The Chairman Len deserves better. I just couldn't deliver :kris102:.

Failure makes you ask questions. About why it happened. About what went wrong. About decisions you made. It makes you question yourself :toofar:.

It also poses new questions. Do I stay and be sacked. It is only a formality after all. Or do I jump ship now and try and find another club. Burton Albion of Conference North and both Grays and Halesowen of Conference South are looking for a manager. Not that they will be too keen on me after my recent record. Still, decisions have to be made. Halesowen are out of the question as they were the one team that we did finish above in the league. They too will be dropping into the abyss. Alfreton are an option :thup:. They have been relegated from the Conference National and have dispensed with their manager.