Witton Relegated

After a long, hard season in the Blue Square Premier; I’ve sadly seen my Witton Albion team relegated, and after winning only 1 of the last 17 games of the season; I can hardly be surprised that my team just wasn’t good enough to stay up.

15 games I went without a win, before finally achieving one against relegated Bishop’s Stortford in the penultimate game of the season; my form was far too poor to stop my team from going down though, and after a 1-1 draw with Woking on the final day of the season, I was relegated in 21st, with Worcester one point ahead of me. Quite how I managed to finish the season so badly I’m not too sure; I had looked pretty safe at one stage, you start to slip down the league when you’re not winning games though, and it was slightly upsetting to experience relegation in my first season at that level.

11 players put themselves on the transfer list after I was relegated, and I therefore faced a potential problem of losing the majority of my team. Slowly they’re coming crawling back though, asking to be removed from the transfer list, and as I’ve had no offers; I think I’ll safely be able to keep hold of my squad, as well as hopefully bringing in a few fresh faces.

Hopefully we’ll be able to bounce straight back to the Blue Square Premier, If not I’ll probably be leaving at the end of the season though, and will start looking elsewhere for a fresh new team to manage.

I would like to get back to the league at some point; I might have to do it the hard way though, and although managing a non-league team is fun; I am rather missing the glory of managing a team from the league, and may have to try and get back there sooner rather than later. I want to take Witton as far as possible, I get the feeling that the Blue Square Premier may well be the peak though, and if we’re not in contention to reach the play-offs come Christmas; I might just resign, and move onto pastures new in my quest for football management success.

Witton Albion Promoted to the Blue Square Premier

Taking charge of a Witton Albion squad with only one on-loan team member to speak of; I had to build my squad from scratch, and was well prepared for a tough first season in the Blue Square North.

I didn’t expect my free transfer signings to perform miracles, they did though, and despite losing on the last day of the season to a team from near the bottom; I was able to finish the season top, two points clear of Boston United.

I’m half expecting my team to be relegated straight back down again; it’d be nice to be able to stay up though, so hopefully I’ll be guiding Witton to a second season in the Blue Square Premier. If we do stay up then next season will probably be my last, and I’ll probably then look to take charge of a league team again. If I can get Witton promoted next season though then that will change things entirely, and I’ll be looking to remain with the club more long term.

So my football management future is still uncertain, I’d love to achieve great success with Witton though, so hopefully things will work out well for me next season, and I can begin to move up the leagues with the part-time football team that is Witton Albion.

Another 40 Point Challenge Failure

Having failed to achieve 40 points in my first season in charge of Hull City; I once again set myself the same challenge for my second season as manager. The season started poorly, and I felt at the time that I was probably going to get relegated. Form picked up as the season progressed though, my players began to play more like a team, and ultimately I finished the season 14th.

Despite finishing the season two places higher than I did the first time round; I still only managed 38 points, and once again failed in my quest for 40 points. As planned, I left the club in the summer, and decided to take charge of Witton Albion, a club that had just achieved promotion to the Blue Square North, and a team that only had one player when I joined; Matt Freeman on loan from Crewe.

25 players were signed in a bid to make Witton Albion a real football team, 23 of which were free transfers, another on loan from Crewe, and 1 player I paid £1,000 for from Southport, Hakeem Araba. I thought he had potential as a player, and would fit in nicely in my quickly constructed team of Blue Square misfits.

Most players I signed had experience in the Blue Square Premier/North/South, a few of them though were ex Football League players that had failed to make the cut at their respective clubs. Not exactly a team of champions, I’m rather pleased with the part-timers that I’ve signed though, and although pre-season was poor as the players got to know one another; the season has started well, and I’m confident of achieving success with Witton Albion.

Who knows; I may even be able to guide Witton to the Blue Square Premier.