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The M5 J1 has long delays and sit in my little KA staring at the red rays of brake lights all up until the jon of the M6.
I had called to the Hawthorns for a meeting witht he chairman Mr Peace. "Come in Lee, take a seat, hows things going with you, aint seen you up here for a while, everything ok".
"Yeah, I'm fine just a little bit puzzled why you've called me, you sounded a bit strange on the phone"
"Well.... Bryan has walked away from the ground after a battle with some of the players, we have given him some quality time at home as the stress of keeping us up last year has took its toll on all of us, and we need somebody to take over the relms, if only for a temporary measure, we don't know if he's coming back and Nigel Pearson didn't want to step up into the managers post. Nigel recommended you as Bryan's best buddy and we felt that you could deal with things. I will contact Bryan and ask if he would like to deal with things from home, but you run things at the club. He gives you the instructions and you follow them. We need to keep Bryan happy, he is a good asset to the club, and no big named manager would be interested in coming here for a temporary measure especially as we don't know when he's gonna come back"
I sit there staring at the pictures in the board room...Cyrill Regis, Ron Atkinson, Jeff Astle, Bob Taylor, Brendon Batson and Bryan himself just to name a few, I have just been offered a position with the Baggies my local team. "Well I would love to help out, but why me, I have no experience in football management, Bryan will tell you that himself, he'll laugh at the arrangements. He never mentioned anything about the problems he had been experiencing and I only saw him yesterday why have you chose me."
"Bryan mentioned you the other day, you always had an ambition to manage the club". The Chairman laughs "you were playing that computer game at Bryan's and you managed us and got us into Europe, so why not change it into reality, its gonna be a challenge and I'm sure Bryan will give you advice. Come on join the club"
I felt a bit strange I helped Bryan run the training, arrange the social events with the players, went on the players coach to matches and even invited them all the wedding, so they knew me, I got on with them all, and idolised them for their achievement last year. All I can think about is Bryan. What would he think, how would he feel, me taking over his job, would he want me to step on his toes. I paused and asked the chairman if I could consider it and would let him know a decision by tomorow morning.
"Look Lee, I need an answer quick if the press get hold of Bryan walking out then we will be on the back page of every paper, I need a contingency plan and somebody to hold the pieces together, are you gonna be a part of this club or what?"
"Ok, Ok, give me 10 minutes, let me phone the wife let her know whats going on and I'll getback to you"
"Hi Honey, how are you?"
"Lee, where are you?"
"You won't beleive what has happened love, I got a call from that Mr Peace from the albion, asking me to see him urgently, so I go over and he offers me the management job"
"WHAT!!! He offers you a job, whats happened to Bryan, I'll ring Sandra to find out the gossip"
"Look dear, keep this to yourself if you can, as Bryan doesn't know, I'll phone him later, but you ok for me to leave Wilko's and fulfill my dream"
"Why ask me, just do it, but don't let it ruin yours or my life, does this mean I can buy a new outfit"
"Yeah if it makes you happy, we'll be rubbing shoulders with the elite in a few weeks, so drop the Levi's and get yourself a decent outfit"
Jess supported me with alot of things and always offer good guidance. I had only gotta convinced Bryan to help me, somehow I didn't think it was gonna be easy.
I return to the Board room, "Ok, I've run it past the missus and she's ok with it, I accept but don't expect things to happen fast"
The chairman shakes my hand and welcomes me on board, "right then Lee you can start tomorrow we'll introduce you to the players, staff and hold a press conference tomorrow, in the mean time I'll speak to Bryan, see you at 9 ok"
It hadn't sunk in the Hawthorns was my 2nd home and I'm managing international footballers. I phone the regional manager of Wilko's
"Hi John, its Lee look can't talk long but I ain't gonna make work tomorrow something's propped up but I'll phone you about lunchtime to tell you more, sorry to leave you in a bit of a mess but your understand why tomorrow" I didn't give him the chance to ask any questions one slip of the tongue and somebody would know before the rest of the team and Bryan!!
"Oh wondered when you were going to call, so when was you going to tell me then"
Obviously Bryan was cheesed off.
"I've already had him on the phone, and before you try and explain anything, I just wanna say thanks, you accepted the vacany without consulting me, you don't even know the reasons why I walked away, some kind of mate you are."
"Bryan I didn't get chance to consult anybody" trying to come up with some excuses. "I knew you wouldn't be happy, but this is my dream, the chairman says that I only have the job temporary whilst you sort yourself out and that the door is open for you, they wouldn't hesitate to get rid of me and have you back"
"Look Lee, this is what you wanted, just do it, to be honest I want better things than West Brom they won't win anything for a long time, and now you have to deal with the stress every night"
"So take it you won't help me."
"I will offer advice but only as a friend, you can take it or leave it, one day we will be arch rivals and put our tactics to test on the pitch and not on the computerised game. I don't want nothing more to do with that bloke Peace and I have told him that. Your find out one day why I have left, just enjoy your 5 minutes of fame whilst it lasts, I'll enjou seeing you face in the papers tomorrow"
"Bryan, you alright about me doing this"
"Look Lee somebody has got to do it, you wanted to do it, just do it. It aint gonna be easy but do your best, see you soon mate"
I put the handset down and wonder if Bryan is really ok, I noticed a change in him after the last match of the season he seemed withdrawn like something was on his mind, thought he idolised the Baggies not leave them in the lurch. He seemed ok with me just hoped he knew what he was doing. Need an early night as my first big day in the office.
I sit in the Mcdonalds opposite the Hawthorns staring at the Jeff Astle gates. Nobody recognisd me yet my picture will be in all the papers later. I chew on my McMuffin wondering what was going to happen, how would I get on with the chairman and what would he say about Bryan. I begin to feel sick and see BMW's, Mercedes, Rolls Royce's, drive into the car park. Should I go early and look keen or should I arrive dead on time and not look to eager.
This experience was going to be one I would never forget. An unknow leading the Baggies out at least I was a local lad who had the club close to my heart. I witnessed the bad times when we got relegated and relegated and that horrific cup loss against Woking, I just hoped that it didn't happen to me.
My little KA eneters the car park at the Hawthorns and I get my case off the back seat, all seems quiet no press or photographers the car park is empty apart from a handful of posh cars.
I slowly walk to the main entrance staring at the East stand and already thinking about the fist match in charge and thinking about the 20,000 plus fans who I had gotta please every Saturday afternoon.
Jeromy greeted me at the front door, "Hows you?"
"To be honest it aint sunk in yet, feel a bit sick if I'm to be honest, but I agreed to do it and I'm going to give it my best shot"
"Lee, thats all the board will ask of you, they know that you haven't got a past record but they will stick by you as long as you don't do anything stupid, the main aim again is to stay up, it's not going to be easy. I suppose we are looking for a good cup run and generate a bit of cash rather than putting a title challenge together. I'm going to introduce you to the board, show you your office and meet you again at 10.30, get yourself settled in find your own way around the ground and meet me back in the Board Room. Press Conference at 10.30 meet the players over lunch at 12.30 and home for 3.00 not a bad days work.
I enter the board room, all eyes focusing on me as I walk towards the vacant chair. "Morning"
No response.....
"How's everybody" When I get nervous I just try and make conversaton, but this lot was not having any of it.
"Well everybody here is the new addition to the staff, I want you to welcome Lee Allen to the position of manager on a permanent basis"
"But...But... you said...."
"Hush, Bryan has severed his ties with the club and is happy to relinquish his responsibility I had decided to install you as manager and that is what we are going to do...."
One of the more mature blokes looked at me "You had much experience then?"
"Well to be honest, no not really I'm quite surprised about this opportunity but I'm going to give it my best shot"
Another bloke looks at me "So you got what it takes? Its not an easy job"
"I am ready for the challenge, I want to give good times the people of Sandwell, I want the Baggies to be the best team in the Midlands, I don't want us to be 3rd best to the Villa or Birmingham, we have overtook Wolves now lets prove the Brummies wrong"
They look at me astounded. Then one bloke claps and then another and then another. Oh my god they enjoyed that one.. "You have the club at heart, we all want whats best for the club lets go and improve on last year's performance"
I get introduced to all the board officially and talk about the good old times at the Baggies everybody forgetting about the Woking and relgation battles that the club faced.
Next stop Press Conference remain calm and look good, was the advice that Jess had given me before I left the house this morning, these words sticking in my mind as Jermony escorts me to the press room.
Bryan Robson has left the Hawthorns, nobody knows the reasons behind this and at a press conference today Lee Allen has been appointed as Robson's successor.
Jeromy Peace Albion Chairman reported "All involved with West Bromwich Albion would like to thank Bryan Robson for the work that he completed during his time with the club, however for circumstances that I am not going to divuldge he felt that the time was right to leave the club. We have acted quickly and have appointed Lee Allen into the managers position"
The cameras on me all I can hear is the sound of cameras and the flashing lights is making me bad. I still feel sick how I wished I could have had time in the office before coming straight to this press conference. The Board wanted to talk to me in alot of detail, I just wanted to sit in my office for the first time.
"Well Lee, whats it like to be a Premiership Manager"
Deep breath before responding "It hasn't posed to many difficulties yet" I joked. "I am going to enjoy it and do what's best for the Albion. I want to succeed and the players will want to suceed, we will get our heads together and aim to have a successful club. We will have to wait and see"
"What do you think about the current squad?"
Is this a trick question to cause unrest already. "The squad is small and I will be looking at individual players in more detail later, however the squad is good enough for me at the moment, everbody will be starting with a clean slate, whatever Bryan did is what he did, I want to do things my way nobody elses"
"What is your realistic goal"
"Thats an easy one, to succeed and be the best manager the Albion have had"
Jeromy answers a few questions giving as little information out as possible. We post for pictures with the Albion emblem in the foreground and me holding up a Baggies shirt with the number 1 and my name on the back.
My dream has started lets hope that it doesn't turn into a nightmare.
I walk to my office and sit behind the desk, in the corner of the room is the filing cabinet with all the paperwork relating to each individual player. I browse through them looking at what I had got to deal with.
A lady called Joy came in and introduced herself as my PA, a pleasant woman who seemed a bit of a busy bee always rushing around. She asked me if I needed anything and seemed shocked that I had ventured into the filing system. "Joy can you get Nigel to come up and see me, need to go through some things with him" "Yes Mr Allen straight away" She rushes off. 5 minutes later a knock on the door "Mr Pearson to see you Mr Allen." "Look Joy you can call me Lee I don't mind" "Certainly Mr Allen ooppps Lee" as she laughs. Nigel walks in and sits in the chair opposite Joy brings a tray with some and 2 glasses in. "Thanks Joy that will be it for now" Nigel chuckles to himself "You've got a right un there, right nosy mare, hasn't got a bad bone in her body and means well, don't tell her your dark secrets as it won't be a secret with her". "Thanks for that bit of advice, how you doing? I honestly can't beleive I'm sitting behind this desk talking to you" "Me neither" he replied.
Taking into account that Nigel turned the opportunity down I am mindful what I say to him. "Nigel, what are the plans and what should I know about" "Ok well have you been told about the pre season friendlies" "Nope" "Ok here we go," he starts to shout team names at me. "Hang on Hang on a minute look Nigel I have that nice clean white board over there, looks too clean for my liking write them on there"
I pass him the pen and he starts to scrawl: -
Morecambe Away
Scarborough Away
Ross County Away
MK Dons Away
Brentford Away
Hull Away
I look him "Well all I can say hope we have fans like away games, whoever chose them fixtures"
Nigel again giggles "First one in 3 days you'd better get to meet the players tomorrow and assess the situation"
"Nigel you've been here a long time I'm gonna need all the help and backing I can ok"
"Yeah boss not a problem"
"Get Joy to arrange for me to meet the players one by one tomorrow, want you present with me and we'll discuss the future, plans for each one, ok"
"Got it"
Nigel leaves and I sit back in the chair staring at those awful fixtures. I'm in my own dream world and the phone goes "Its Mr Robson for you Lee"
"Hello Bryan how are you?"
"Ok mate settling in well, about yesterday I'm sorry if I upset you or sounded weird but everything has happened so quickly, I wish you all the best and there is no hard feelings, may even come and watch you when the season starts"
What a relief I had the backing from my mate.
"Thanks Bry that means alot to me, pop round the weekend I'm sure the missus would love to see you"
Its endless visitors and well wishers all afternoon. Joy pops in "Lee I'm going now ok, and you'd better start to think about going as there's a bit of a crowd outside, sure they want to have a glimpse of the new boss, ok, see you tomorrow, Bye" She rushes out the door. I look through the tinted window she was right there was a crowd of about 50 people and the press were still hovering interviewing the crowd. I grab my suit jacket and make for the exit.
An hour later I finally get to the door, not commenting on anything to the press just signing autographs and having loads of pictures taken, I have never been so popular, or unpopular as I was about to find out.
I walk in bright and early the ground is so big especially when there is only a few people in it, I get to the office door and notice that it is already open. "Joy, what you doing your in early, you don't start for another hour"
"Oh Lee you have such a busy day and I wanted to organise everything I have placed the players personal files in the order that you will be seeing them so that you don't have to keep leaving the desk and go the filing cabinet. I have organised refreshments for you throughout the day as it's a really busy schedule and have made time at 3.00pm for you to meet the team as a whole. I want you to be organised and not to worry about anything, nearly finished and I'll be out your way"
I have never been so organised in all my life, Joy was obviously keen to make a good impression and was faultless. Constantly asking if I was ok, and taking numerous messages. I walk to her office and she's on the phone "I'm sorry Mr Allen is unavailable at the moment, can I take a message" She points at the message book theres about 25 messages within 10 minutes. She replaces the receivor "Gosh I have never been so busy you are a popular man, a couple of managers have phoned you to wish you well, a couple of fans want to speak to you and talk about the team and to give you some advice, just read them and let me know what action you want taking and I'll phone them back" "Thanks Joy do you want a drink I'm going to make a cup of tea" She looks at me horrified. "Joy, I can make tea you know, you get the phone I'll bring a pot in"
Joy is busy in the office dealing with endless tasks that I didn't know needed to be done. She looks at her watch and signals that Nigel should be here. I thank her give her the thumbs up and walk to my office. Nigel is already outside. "Joy has given me the programme for the day, I'm going to see all the players individually and let them know whats going to happen, if you want to chip in then please do so, you know them better than me". Joy the star had got me to see all players in position order and not alphabetical order. Right lets get the show on the road.
Sink or Swim in the Premiership 
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