retired_jessicabraden

Hi, Let me introduce myself, my name is Monty Stone a 30 year old guy born and bred in the heart of Birmingham, England.

I had recently split up from my a long term girlfriend which had resulted in me moving back home with my family. My mother was a school dinner lady and then there was my lazy father who spent endless days sitting on his back side pressing the buttons of the TV remote control and flicking through the channels. I have a younger brother Tiger a 24 year old night howler a constant whinger, and then you have the 3 cats Charles, Domino, and Jack.

I arrive at home dad in the lounge remote control in one hand, can of beer in the other. Mother in the kitchen again cooking the tea, and Tiger hanging around looking for a clean shirt to wear. I enter the kitchen and mother asks if I have had a good day at work. I look at her and burst into tears. I'm quite an emotional guy who is going through a stage of depression following the relationship breakdown. "I've had the sack, they've sacked me, I can't believe it what else can go wrong? Why me?"

I was managing a local Tier 3 football team, I had achieved 3 straight promotions with them and had guided them to mid table safety this year. We had a tough run in and lost valuable points and hardly won a game in the last 10 this season.

The Chairman had dragged me to the bar after todays match, "Look Monty we think you have brought the team as far as you can, and think that fresh blood can help us next year, we have had our slight problems, especially the financial situation, so we think its best if you move on" I shouted back at him "WHAT!!!! So your sacking me what for, after all what I have done for you lot, bloomy charming"

I admit that I had caused the board problems especially the financial front I was a manager who wanted success (don't we all) and had ignored the wage bill and I was driving the club into financial ruin. But looking at it, on the other hand look at how far we had progressed in such a good time.

I sit staring at the tea that was placed in front of me. "I'm not hungry mom". What was I going to do? All I had really done was managed local football teams and pulled a few pints in the local pub.

Football was what I lived for and now I had nothing. No girlfriend, no house, no job and now no money.

retired_jessicabraden

The sacking had not sunk in so I was a bit reluctant to look for another job, my mother was nagging me pointing out that if I didn't do anything then I would end up like my father.

I pick my lap top up and design a kind of advert. Young, energic, motivated, manager available to a good home. Will consider options in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Excellent CV available for your perusal. Contact 07812939329 for further information. Satisfaction guranteed.

It was like an advert for an escort but it was a start, I posted it to all forums on the football websites that I thought may attract attention. I trail the managerial available list, Mansfield, Bury, Yeovil, Tamworth and Dublin City. None of them really interested me but I couldn't sit on my backside doing nothing all my life.

I emailed Mansfield, Tamworth and Dublin City requesting the application forms.

retired_jessicabraden

The application forms land in my inbox. With the criteria that they;re looking for. I match them, I'm capable of achieving things and they're looking for an ambitious manager.

I tap in my personal details and study on the final section why do I want the job.

Well I'm skint, bored, depressed and suicidal and just need a break, being at home all day isn't as nice as I what I thought it would be. I need to do something and football is what I want to be involved in. I sit at the lap top as each application form is emailed back.

I await the results with anticipation.

retired_jessicabraden

I receive 2 quick decline emails from Dublin and Mansfield quoting my lack of experience as one of the main reasons for being unsuccessful. I obtain an interview for the post at Tamworth.

Now Tamworth were struggling, there was no doubt about that, now I know I wasn't get a job in the Premiership but hey this was going to be a challenge, but I had to get the job first.

I walk up to the ground, stare at the main stand, stare again and blink, I mean it was no Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford or Anfield but there was just nothing there. I walk into the stadium and I am greeted by a lovely young lady. "Can I help you?"

"Erm, yeah I'm supposed to have an interview at 2 but can you tell them I've changed my mind, the names Stone, Monty Stone, thanks" I hurry out before I change my mind.

There was something there, could it be that it was to close to home, to much of a challenge even, or just didn't like it, I didn't know and I was the only one with the answers.

It was to be another long study at the jobs pages and there were no jobs coming up.

Months pass and how I now wish I would have gone for the Tamworth job, if only just to get experience and a few pounds in the back pocket. How silly was I.

retired_jessicabraden

Its the beginning of November and still no sign of a job, there maybe a couple of openings soon as Sligo Rovers, Gainsborough and Dundalk are on the look out for new managers.

I don't particularly fancy Gainsborough as they are bottom of the Conference North and a few points adrift and is a move to Ireland what I'm looking for. After careful consideration I decided that I could not turn my nose up at anything. My application forms were completed and sent, only a matter of time before the decline letters come back.

retired_jessicabraden

Whilst reading the football daily I come across Morton currently 6th in the Scottish 2nd Division, there going through a really bad patch and the fans are calling for Jim McInally's head.

I call the Morton Chairman, "Hi, hear your going through a bit of a sticky spell, I'm interested in Scottish football so if your considering a relacement then please consider me. I'll fax/email my CV to you if you like so you can have a look"

"And you are?"

"Oh yeah, sorry Monty Stone"
"Monty who, never heard of you, whats your background?"

I wheel off my past irrelevant experience and begin to wonder if I have really set my sights to high. The phone conversation ends but I'm not hopeful for the job even when it does become vacant.
________________________________________________

Whilst scouring the Scottish FA website I notice an interesting headline.

Unknown interested in Morton

Unknown Monty Stone has made a surprising call to Greenock Morton chairman Douglas Rae throwing his name into the frame should current manager McInally fail to turn Morton's fortune around.

Mr Rae laughs of the possibility of replacing McInally as he has the full backing of the Board. When questioned about the approach Rae replied "If we look for a replacement I will be looking for a bigger name than Monty Stone"

Well I never, get knocked back for jobs that aren't even available, slandered in the press, I'm going to keep myself to myself and just apply for jobs when they become vacant. Lets hope I hear something soon.

retired_jessicabraden

November comes and go's with no interviews. Gainsborough and Sligo not even acknowledging my application form.

St Mirren and Thurrock sack their managers and I apply for both of these positions, my fingers are firmly crossed but not hopeful.

As I predicted St Mirren was a firm no, don't bother applying again kind of response. Thurrcok ponder about their decision and I sit and wait with anticipation, its now the middle of December and I'm skint, my parents are moaning as I'm constantly borrowing money. One day I will pay them back.

retired_aurie

You're obviously in a worse state than I was. It took me 2 months to get a job in Wales and now I've got to stick to it.

I like the way you're building the story though, KUTGW :thup:

retired_jessicabraden

Thanks axeman the Druids position has been available for ages but didn't want to apply as I knew you were doing story. Have a good one. :thup:

Shawnotron

Yeah I like the way you've wrote this, will definitely be following this one.