retired_marcias

Author's note: This is my first ever CM story so I'll do my best to make it interesting. I couldn't resist the Lisbon Lions challenge and managing in my favourite country. I doubt I'll include huge amounts of dialogue, but out of respect for true Scots I won't even attempt to add a Scottish accent/dialect to my posts. Apologies to those who find it less authentic, but on the whole I think it's better than me making a mess of trying to be Scottish

Saturday July 5th 2003

It was 06:30 in the morning and I was stood on the platform at Bolton station. I had mixed feelings, but on the whole I was happy and excited about the new direction my life was about to take. There's something about Scotland that I just can't describe...I was born in Bolton and have lived in England my whole life until now, albeit with annual holidays to Scotland and Wales, but the moment I first crossed the border in 1988 I felt smething indescribable, something special - I was in Scotland. My destination then had been Acharacle, a small village close to the Ardnamurchan peninsula, picked seemingly at random by my parents for our first ever Scottish holiday. Those 2 weeks were magical with lochs, mountains, beaches and everything I could want as well as a trip across the sea to the Isle of Skye...I could write a whole story about my annual Scottish holidays from '88 onwards, but I digress...all that really matters was that I fell in love with Scotland and now, stood on Bolton station I was heading back there, and this time I was going there to live. For how long? Well, good question. We'd have to see now wouldn't we.

After a 4 hour train journey, changing at Carstairs Junction, I was in Glasgow - a city I've always wished to spend some time getting to know, but not today. Today I was in a hurry. Out of the station and up the street as fast as I could with my heavy rucksac. The Citylink timetable told me the next coach was due at 11:10 with an hour to wait after that and I had a long way to go today so an hour lost would not be good. 2 minutes to spare and I'm there, making my way down the aisle of the coach to a vacant seat.

The Coach was on its way at last. Out of Buchanan Street Bus Station and into the crowded Glasgow streets, destination: Inverness. The so-called "Capital of the Highalnds" and a truly beautiful City I remembered well from my last visit there. It was to be another 4 hour trip so there was plenty of time for my mind to wander back to that quite extra-ordinary day a week earlier...

retired_marcias

The whole background to my meeting with Mr. MacLaren would take too long to fully report here. Suffice to say that I had been at university with his son in Nottingham and we had become firm friends. We both loved walking and with him being from Scotland and having his family home in Dingwall, it provided an ideal base for us to do some walking from when he invited me up to the Highlands at the end of our first year at university. It was then that I met his father, Mr. Archie MacLaren and of an evening he used to regale us with Scottish footballing tales from years past. How many of them were true, we never quite knew, but we listened spellbound and my week there passed far too fast. Over the years since, I've been back many times and often discussed the Scottish football scene with Archie. I was up there last just one week ago and it was on that warm summer saturday evening that the conversation took place that was to change my life.

Being an avid follower of Scottish football I had read the news on my way up there that Ross County had sacked their manager, having just scrambled to safety on the last day of the 2002/2003 season. It was felt that the club needed a whole new direction if they were to avoid a similar struggle, maybe not so fortunate, the following season. So it was that I found myself chatting easily with Archie as we had many times over the recent years and after a few beers I was off, waxing lyrical on my dream to see a Scottish football team again be at the pinacle of European football...not just a team from Scotland though, a team made up entirely of Scottish players, just like the famous Celtic team of 1967 that Archie had told me so much about. Throughout all my outpouring of words, Archie had listened intently with a gleam in his eyes, thinking back to one of the best moments of his life, now some 36 years ago. We chatted and drunk into the early hours before sleep overtook us.

It was the following morning at breakfast that I almost choked on my food as Archie asked me his question, quite simply, quite concisely, completely out of the blue. "So what about it then? Last night you inspired me with your talk of an all-Scottish team conquering Europe again so I want you to take over at Ross County and take my club into Europe and follow your dream, follow our dream". I was shocked. I'd known, of course, that he was the Ross County chairman and the vacant manager's position had come up in our talk, but only as a natural subject for me to ask him about. Having just finished a PhD I was planning some kind of job in computing, although I still had no idea what career direction I wanted to follow...

So there it was. I had assumed he was joking, but he was not. And an hour later, neither was I when I shook his hand and signed a 3 year contract to manage Scottish 1st Division club Ross County. And now, here I was, on a coach heading into Inverness. A change of coach at Inverness and soon enough I was there, at my new home for hopefully the next 3 years and beyond - Dingwall.

[This message was edited by glamdring on 05 February 2004 at 22:04.]

retired_marcias

Sunday July 6th 2003

Well, I've only been officially in charge for 1 day, but we have activity already. The Scottish League Cup and The Scottish League Challenge Cup draws both taking place today. As yet I've not had chance to run my eye over the squad so it's hard to say what a realistic aim for this season is. I'd like to push for promotion of course, but with just 1 team from 10 to go up to the promised land of the SPL that might be a bridge too far for this season. For now though I'll just see what the draw throws up for these 2 cups. I've always loved the cups so at least 1 cup run would be nice, but with a relatively small squad it will be hard to compete on multiple fronts.

First up would be the draw for the League Cup - my first ever live draw as a football manager - I still felt as though I was living in a dream world, but as the first tie was announced, pitting St. Mirren at home to Stranraer, I knew that this was it...the beginning of what I hoped to be a long and successful career as a football manager at Ross County. With nerves tingling I listen attentively for Ross County to come out of "the hat". And there we are...4th team out, drawn away to Airdrie United. Initial thoughts: slightly disappointed that we aren't at home, but they're in Division 2 so we should go through, but it'll be tough. I don't remember off hand the rest of the draw, but it doesn't matter, I can read it later if I wish.

Onto the second draw and my nerves have settled now, I'm becoming a veteran at this cup draw stuff so I wait patiently as the draw begins. Apparently Queen of the South are the holders of the Challenge Cup...I wonder how many miles away they are - the furthest club from us up in Dingwall I'd imagine...woah, here we are, away again, this time at Gretna from Division 3...seems I was wrong about Queen of the South, unless my geography is wrong Gretna is even further! So there we have it - my first competitive match in charge of Ross County will involve a mammoth trek across Scotland to Gretna on the 2nd of August - at least it's a Saturday afternoon match, not Tuesday evening like the trip to Ardrie will be a month later...I can feel the excitement building up already, I'm on the way...

retired_marcias

Author's note:
Well, that's me started...time to get on and actually play some CM now. To anyone who has persevered reading all so far - thanks & don't worry, I won't be posting that much every time and I won't be giving a daily diary - just happened that the cup draws were the day after the start so I thought I'd stop there for now!

Apologies for my slightly random use of past/present/etc tense - I'm a mathematician so my literary skills are not too brilliant

retired_marcias

After the cup draws, I head down to my office for the first time to take a look over the squad list before I officially meet the players tomorrow. 44 players in all including the reserves and Under 19s - 40 Scots, 2 English, 1 Northern Irish and 1 Irish. The 2 English lads and the Northern Irish lad are all young and should hopefully be able to ply their trade elsewhere from the start of the season as I aim to build myself a full Scottish squad. Young Irish forward Connor Gethins at 19 looks quite a good player on paper and I begin to think that maybe including Irish players in my squad would still be fine, but I quickly dismiss the idea - Ireland is a fellow celtic country, but our whole ideal was to build a fully Scottish side, not a celtic side. I'll have to take a look at Connor on the training pitch though before deciding on his short-term future. The first aim is to take the club into the SPL and if he can help us get there for next season then we can go our seperate ways next year he could still be useful, but I'll have to see what our other forwards look like first.

Not too much else to see yet until I meet the players and watch them train. Nevertheless, I pick up the squad sheet to take home with me to study some more before the morrow. A young squad certainly which is what I like - just 6 players over 23...I guess it might be worth bringing in a little more experience for a promotion push, but we'll have to see who is available. And so, my first day in charge of Ross County comes to an end. Two cup draws and an initial look at the squad sheet as I try to familiarise myself with my new surroundings. Tomorrow will be a big day when I meet the players. How will they react to a totally unproven manager taking charge?

retired_marcias

Sunday July 13th 2003

It's been quite a busy first week at Ross County. 2 pre-season friendlies played so far and 2 week trials offered to a host of young Scots looking for a new club. Our two scouts have also been sent out, one searching for promising youth players, the other to scout Scotland.


Ross County 0-3 Partick Thistle
Pre-season friendly - Tuesday 8th July

A surprisingly large attendance of 2063 came to watch my first match in charge as SPL side Partick Thistle came to Victoria Park. The performance was not at all impressive though and I felt embarrassed that we'd even charged £1 per person entrance fee. With not even 2 full days to get to know the players before this match, it was never going to be the most fluid performance so no need to worry yet. 0-1 down at half time and without many clearcut chances for Ross County. 6 substitutions ten minutes into the second half did little to improve things however and Thistle's Jamie Mitchell scores his second of the game almost as soon as the new players took to the pitch. The scoring was completed on the hour as County centre-back Martin Canning got in the way of a Thistle cross and diverted the ball into his own net. Just 1 shot on target in the match for County...hopefully we'll have some new players in for the next match.

On the brighter side, Ross O'Donoghue snubbed a number of other clubs including SPL side Dunfirmline to sign the somewhat generous contract we had offered him, making him our second highest earner.

On Thursday, Philip Scott's agent informed us that his client had rejected our contract offer in favour of joining Aberdeen - disappointing, but not unexpected. More surprisingly, David McGuire turns down a firm offer from his favoured club Airdrie United to accept a 2 week trial offer with County - he looks promising, but we'll have to see.

Mixed news on Friday as young winger Alan Carella slips through our fingers and agrees terms with Clyde instead, whilst 8 players agree to a 2 week long trial at Ross County including full-backs Andrew Bell and Bobby Duncan who could perhaps solve our problems at left-back

Ross County 3-1 Dundee United
Pre-season friendly - Saturday 12th July

Another SPL side visiting Victoria Park for a pre-season match. Most of our trialists are included in the 23 man squad for the game. With just 6 minutes on the clock, Barry Robson splits the Ross County defence with a lovely pass for Colin Samuel who duly gives Dundee Utd the lead. For the second match running, County reach half time a goal down with the defence looking very hesitant and having created very little upfront. At last, with 15 minutes to go Ross County net the goal their second half play deserves as Steven McGarry latches onto a knock down from Calum McHattie and dribbles past a statuesque Utd defence to finish neatly. 5 minutes later and we've turned things round completely with a neat through ball from Billy McDonald setting McHattie up and a great right wing run and cross by David Winters for McHattie to head in his second. Suddenly it's the Utd defence looking creaky as County turn on the style. The 5922 attendance and a good 3-1 win certainly bodes well for the season proper.

Dumbarton make a loan offer for our Northern Irish centre-back, but we'd rather sell if possible so we reject the offer.

All in all, not a bad first week in charge. With all the trialists we have currently, we should be strengthening the squad in the coming weeks ready for the start of the season

[This message was edited by glamdring on 06 February 2004 at 0:51.]

retired_marcias

Author's note:
Still developing some kind of standard for reporting, but for the moment I'll use italics to report the signing of players and bold to highlight Ross County players as well as match scores.

retired_marcias

Sunday July 20th 2003

The week began with a flurry of interest in Sean Webb, our Northern Irish centre-back - Bristol Rovers made an enquiry so we asked for a £10,000 fee. Surprisingly, Welsh side Connah's Quay instantly came in with a £10,000 offer which we have accepted. Judging by the interest, we could probably increase our price, but the lad deserves his first team football so we don't wish to price him out of the market.

On Monday afternoon, we make our second signing of the season, raising some eyebrows as 39 year old Andy Goram joins County on a 2 year contract as a player/coach. It's likely he'll start the season as first choice 'keeper and he brings a wealth of experience and will be our new goalkeeping coach. Goram is followed into Victoria Park on Tuesday by 32 year old Inverness-born former Manchester City defender Andy Morrison who returns to his native Scotland. Morrison should add some much needed solidity to an inexperienced back line.

Disappointment on Wednesday as highly-rated defender Sergei Baltacha decides to head south to join Bristol Rovers who, as expected also make a firm offer for County defender Sean Webb who in turn snubs Connah's Quay to head for Bristol leaving just 3 non-Scots in the Ross County squad.

Ross County 3-3 Galatasaray
Pre-season friendly - Thursday 17th July

Quite a coup for Ross County. After the visits of 2 SPL clubs, our 3rd pre-season friendly sees top Turkish side Galatasaray visit Dingwall. Debuts for Ross O'Donoghue and Andy Goram whilst Andy Morrison plays his first match as a full County player. Numerous trialists feature again as we attempt to evaluate which to offer contracts to. A promising start for County as David Winters and O'Donoghue combine to setup trialist David McGuire to score the opening goal. With 8 minutes to go until half time Bobby Duncan gets a good cross in for McGuire to volley in a superb second from just outside the area - he definitely looks worth a contract. Erdem Arif pulls one back for Galatasaray 5 minutes into the second half and it's time to make some substitutions. With an hour on the clock, two substitutes combine as Steven McGarry pulls wide left to whip in a cross to the 6 yard box which George Keldie tucks away with ease. Andy Goram shows his worth by saving a late penalty, but is unable to keep the follow-up out. An injury time equaliser from Fábio Pinto is disappointing, but all in all a very good performance against a side who'll be hoping to progress in the Champions League this season. Omens for the new season are certainly looking better now than after the 0-3 reverse against Partick Thistle and the near 6,000 crowd go home happy with news also of local rivals Inverness Cally Thistle's 0-2 home defeat to Hibernian infront of a meagre 1332 crowd.

The week ends on a high note as Peterhead boss Ian Wilson accepts County's £1,000 offer for out of favour striker Keith Robertson, who agrees a 3 year deal. After impressing during his trial period with 2 goals against Galatasaray, David McGuire happily signs for County on a permanent basis to add some firepower to the forward line along with strong target-man Robertson.

retired_blondie_524

very good start, keep up the good work - always good to see someone attempt it not in charge of the Old Firm

retired_amyslack

Welcome and good luck. This is a nice start and I'll be following with interest. :thup: