[retired_frogs]

2012-13 - Barrow - English League One

3.78M transfer budget
Expectations: Avoid Relegation
2.65M wage budget

Players In: 9 for 1.1M
Players Out: 6 for 1.3M

Finances allow me to scout Europe now, so I made good use of that by bringing in a few players to bolster the squad. Still had the injury problems of last season, where I outplayed the league before losing 7-8 players to injury at once and fell into a funk. This time it was a eight match losing streak before recovering with four wins, only securing a playoff spot with the last game of the season, and using that form to propel me through to promotion.

I'm adamant it was more a show of @rse than class, and I'll have a lot of work to do if the club has any hope of staying up next season.

Final Position: 3rd - Promoted via Playoff
FA Cup: 4th Round
LDV Poof Trophy: Runner-Up
League Cup: 1st Round

[retired_babymwc07]

And what happened to the prima donna?

[retired_frogs]

He was injured for about 3 months out of the season, scored 41 goals and still has a year to run on his contract. I'm hoping I can persuade him to stay, he's basically the only thing keeping me at Barrow.

[retired_frogs]

2013-14 - Barrow - English Championship

4.11M transfer budget
Expectations: Avoid relegation (big surprise!)
3.48M wage budget

Players In: 5 for 950k
Players Out: 8 for 2.9M

Began the season by doing some major scouting work and managed to find some good bargains in the lower leagues and spain, although they weren't the first team players I was looking for.

My heroic striker finally signed a new contract, so that will help to keep me interested in staying at Barrow.

Said goodbye to another striker and a right back who wouldn't sign new contracts, so the club is well and truly cashed up now.Besides that, the season ran in usual Barrow style: A slow start, rising to be top by January/February, before going into a tailspin of shocking form and pulling out of the slump with a handful of games left in the season. I think I'm starting to see this aquaplaning thing that Iaj and others rattle on about. Really annoying.

Because while this poor run of league form was going on, I managed to comfortably beat Birmingam, Chelsea and Tottenham in the FA cup. While I would never knock back an FA Cup (As hollow as it was), it cost me enough league form to only barely squeeze past Charlton in the playoff semis, and be thoroughly trounced in the final by a Preston side with half the normal XI out to injury.

Not happy (although the EURO spot helps), but I'm not at the point where I'll be reaching for the prozac quite yet.

Final Position: 4th (Playoff runner-up)
FA Cup: Winner
League Cup: 4th Round

[retired_lapepe]

How can you not be happy? That's one hell of a season mate

KUTGW

[retired_frogs]

2014-15 - Barrow - English Championship

6.33M transfer budget
Expectations: Mid Table
4.51M wage budget

Players In: 4 for 4.1M
Players Out: 8 on free transfers

The board announce a stadium expansion for the first time in my tenure - 2500 seats to be put in by January. I'm also offered the Ireland job, which I gratefully accepted.

Tore through the EURO Cup, to my absolute surprise. Barrow eliminated the likes of Roma and ManUre before being trounced by Spanish champs Valencia in the quarter Final, so I couldn't be happier with that result.

League form for the season was uneventful at best. No miraculous winning streaks, no injury crisis, no form spiral. Finished the season in a comfortable 6th position, and squeaked past Pompey and Fulham to capture a much deserved promotion.

Final Position: 6th (Promoted via playoffs)
EURO Cup: Quarter Finals
FA Cup: 4th Round
League Cup: Quarter Finals

---

2014-15 - Ireland

Ireland are in a Euro qualifying group with Spain, N. Ireland, Slovenia, Andorra and Armenia.

3-1 Armenia
2-0 Slovenia
3-0 Bosnia (Friendly)
4-3 Spain
4-0 Andorra
4-0 Armenia

A couple of very comfortable victories against easy opponents, and a very cheeky win at home against Spain. Probably the best possible start to my International career.

[retired_joysnow]

Wow

Excellent form Victa

Keep up the good work!

[retired_d.hudson1]

You're an absolute god!

[retired_frogs]

2015-16 Barrow - English Premiership

4.67M transfer budget
Expectations: Avoid Relegation
7.35M wage budget

Players In: 3 for 1.7M
Players Out: 8 on free transfers

Another 9500 seats to be put into the stadium, with a ground share at Morecambe's 26000 seater organised until it's completed. (I wonder how the locals would feel about that.)

Threw the cup comps away and spent the squad's energy on staying in the Premiership. And it seems to have done the job, besides the usual early season jitters, the club was never in any real danger of coming to terms with the drop.

I have one season left on my contract at Barrow now, and I'm genuinely considering leaving and finding a new challenge somewhere else in the world, unless I can, say, secure a Europe spot with Barrow this coming season or something like that. I still think I've got things to learn, and I'd enjoy a new challenge.

Final Position: 13th
FA Cup: 4th Round
League Cup: 2nd Round

---

2015-16 Ireland

Continued on the road to the EURO championships with a few stumbling blocks.

0-1 N. Ireland
2-2 Slovenia
5-0 Andorra
1-5 Spain

Leaving Ireland with a qualification playoff against a strong Slovakia side to secure a finals berth.

1-1 Slovakia (A)
1-0 Slovakia (H)

1-3 Norway (Friendly)

So, off to Greece for EURO 2018. Ireland were drawn in the competition's group of death with France, Russia and qualifying group rivals Spain.

0-1 France
1-4 Spain
0-1 Russia

The squad was never shamed, but the lack of class in defence shined through and the team was shown the exit door after the group stages.

Despite the Irish FA being happy with my performance, I quit the post to concentrate on what could be my last season at Barrow.

[retired_uppenamy]

5 years in conference followed by 4 straight promotions..Fabulous work there fellow Aussie.What became of your 137goal blitzer, can I buy him?