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FM5 : Austrian, Belgium, Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Icelandic, Italian, Duth, Both Irish, Norwegian, Portuguase, Scottish, Spanish, Swedish, Welsh. All available leagues and in full detail.
Friday 9th July 2004
Its only 18 miles to work in Hawick, I think as I fire up my Kawasaki ZZR600. Off I go on my short journey from Galashiels to Hawick on the A7.
As I lean into many a bend my mind starts wandering, about the football from the previous season. Berwick Rangers trip to Tynecastle for the Scottish Cup, epic struggles with Greenock Morton in the 2nd Division. I then start thinking about home and my number 1 team Basingstoke Town, about how they managed to scrape into the Conference South, only because Hendon pulled out. All too soon I saw the signs Welcome to Hawick and it was time to get into reality.
I walked into my office and the Financial Director said "When you get your bike gear off can you come and see me." So off I went to his office.
"Kev, I am sorry to say this", he sighed. "I am afraid we cant afford to employ the services of an Accountant, we are going to have to let you go"
Numb, I got on my bike to drive home and I decided to go via the Job Centre and start the procedure for claiming the dole.
I arrived at Gala Job Centre and the receptionist said I was lucky and I could have the appointment there and then because there was a cancellation. The form filling out was easy and then after an interview regarding benefits, a back to work interview was conducted.
This spotty bloody teenager started telling me how I should look for work. He asked me what type of work I would like to do. "Football Manager, I snapped back at him. Before I could correct him he had written this and said I had 26 weeks to look for this type of work, before I had to broaden my search.
I walked out completley shocked at his stupidty and went to the pub, where I spent the rest of the day drowning my sorrows. But a football manger rather than an accountant had some type of appeal.
Maybe I should apply for these jobs just to mess around the Job Centre and have a holiday, before I had to start applying for correct work for me. The drunker I got the better it sounded.
Day 3 unemployed. I went off to the pub today to watch Dundee United v Chelsea in a friendly, live on Scottish TV. Chelsea won 2-0.
After the match I decide with a few friends to go home and to start to take the mickey out of the job centre and apply for some managerial jobs. Stop one the internet.
Vacancies in the British Isles: Greenock Morton, I decide that I would be pushing it to apply for this prestigous team.
So I decide to look further afield. "It's about time you start using your EU status", jokes Dave. And why not indeed I think, maybe somewhere warm.
Lusitania of the Portuguese Second B South catches my eye. Small team with a distinct lack of support and finances. "Maybe they will be just desperate enough to take me on", I laughed. We thought it was a boat which got sunk in the 1st world war not a footie team, but lets have a laugh we all say.
I made my Curriculum Vitate out and sent it via e-mail to Portugal. As I pressed the send key. I never thought I would even get a reply from them.
The Lusitania board have acknowledged my application to become manager of the club. They will inform me of their decisions shortly. I cant wait to tell my mates.
The wife on the other hand is a bit dubious about me playing silly buggers. She thinks I should concertrate on getting a job in the finance world.
Well the job centre said I should apply for one job a week. I have kept up my end of this jobseekers agreement.
I did have an earlier thread, with CM03-04 (2 posts I think), but my computer died just into pre-season. By the time I brought a new computer. FM5 was out, so I thought why not.
I actually prefer more detail and less speed. As I like to take the game into the long term. I don't want to find twenty seasons down the line, I have not chosen enough leagues
Spent the evening, on a great barmy summers evening in Tweedmouth, to watch my beloved Berwick Rangers. Great thing this UB40, I get half price admission into Shiefield Park.
Well one whole week on the social and still no word from the Lusitania board regarding my application, they must have thrown it straight into the bin, while splitting their sides laughing.
So here we are again Sunday lunchtime down the boozer watching footie on the box. Today its Erfurt versus Arsenal. Aresenal won 1-0 in this tight friendly.
After the match and a few drinks later my mates start talking about my career (or lack off) and Dave says "Don't forget you must apply for a one job a week, you dont want to lose your benefits". Trust Dave to bring my Sunday down with a bump.
So off I go home to look at football_managers_r_us.com and look to see what is available today. The only other available Portuguese job is Tourizense of 2nd B Central. I dont fancy taking this team, they look a total bunch of no hopers. I like a challange but get a life.
Whats left, Tongeren of the Belgian Third B. These are a semi pro team with okay finances, the team looks like I could get my teeth into. So I send my CV off too them.
My beloved Luise cooks me dinner and I fall asleep on the couch.
While watching Trisha this morning, oh the joys of being unemployed. I turned on my computer and recieved this e-mail.
Dear GalaKev,
Thankyou for your application for the vacancy Manager at KSK Tongeren. Unfortunatley on this occassion we feel that there are candidates who more closely match our requirements.
We thank you for you interest in KSK Tongeren and wish you success in your chosen career path.
Yous faithfully
Pierrot Byloos
Chairman
Oh well I still have not heard from Lusitania yet.
At 10pm, the telephone rang, bloody typical I muttered. Why does it always ring as I am about to watch a film.
"Hello", I said. "Could I speak to GalaKev", the voice responded. "Thats me", I was half expecting this person to say "Are you thinking of buying a new kitchen within the next year". But no.
"This is Paulo Borges, President of Club Sporte Lusitania". My heart missed a few beats, after a few seconds of silenece. "Hello Mr Borges", I stuttered.
"GalaKev we have looked at your CV and have decided that we would like to employ your services as manager for Lusitania" said Borges in broken and hard to understand English, " We can offer you a transfer budget in the region of 26,000 Euros and with the wage bill which is standing at 100,000 euros per annum, we can offer you some flexability as well. What do you think?"
Not being a great one for words I responded rather stupidly with "Yeah, Why Not". "Good," said Mr Borges "We have taken the liberty of booking you on a flight tomorrow morning at 11:15 from Edinburgh to Angra Do Heroismo, via London Heathrow. We can discuss personal terms tomorrow evening, then we can announce the deal on Thursday morining. See you tomorrow, bye". "Bye", came my response almost in utter disbelief. I put the phone down.
My wife was asleep on the couch. How could I tell her, I'm not even packed. I decide I will go with her or without her, off to the Azores I go. I better go and wake her up, what about schools for my son, A thousand unanswered questions were running through my mind.
But I will worry about everything tomorrow after I have spoken to Mr Borges.
From the Social to Who Know Where 
Is this your first story? If so welcome to the boards btw :thup:
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