So where to next? I’ll list out anything interesting as it comes up. I’ve put in a sneaky application for Lech Poznan (1st(!) in the Ekstraklasa in Poland – its a long story why they need a manager) but don’t expect anything back.
2nd April 2023 – Motherwell sack Brian Kerr – I might be interested to take them over If I can rebuild them next season in the Championship… Obvs I’m considered a leading candidate…
8th April 2023 – Lech Poznan offer interview…
A decent wage bill (Though I should imagine small compared to the likes of Legia).
Looking at the table they are doing well (5 points up, 1 game left before the 7-game Championship Group starts) so this would be great fun 🙂
So Radoslav Latal (CZE) was their manager for a year, but went to Sparta Prague, who are 2nd in Czechia. He went there as the previous manager of over 5 years, Zdenek Scasny (CZE), went to Stoke (Premier League in 2022/23 season). He went to Stoke as Miguel Angel Nadal (SPA) was sacked. So it was the normal trickle-down when a decent-size job comes up in the big leagues.
11th April 2023 – Former Motherwell manager Steven Anderson (Sacked in November 2022) new manager of Raith Rovers.
14th April 2023 – Lech interview unsuccessful – They’ve gone with Kazimerz Moskal (POL) who has left Wisla Plock (9th – 2nd in the Relegation Group in the Ekstraklasa) after managing all over Poland since 2011.
15th April 2023 – Matjaz Kek takes over at Newcastle – Celtic is now available… Application sent (Not expecting anything though, not quite high enough rep yet for that).
17th April 2023 – Robbie Neilson takes over at Motherwell. he was sacked as Swansea manager in November 2022.
22nd April 2023 – Raith now bottom by 1 point (They play Motherwell next) – 3 games left. Berwick sit 5th with 1 game left – they have won 1 game since i left (Out of 16…). Civil Service escape relegation out of the Lowland League by 4 points.
29th April 2023 – Celtic offer job interview… Wasn’t expecting that TBH!!
Nice. Though I don’t expect anything. It would be good to get a decent job at a top-level league in Europe – possibly Scandinavia a la Graham Potter??
3rd May 2023 – Couple more irons in the fire – MSV Duisberg in Bundesliga 2 and Sporting Gijon in the Segunda Liga. Both big clubs, both in and around the same rep I have as a manager. We shall see.
4th May 2023 – Laurent Blanc is the new manager of Celtic (3-an-a-bit star rep)
6th May 2023
!!!
Raith Rovers go into the last game on the 13th needing to beat Ross County and for Motherwell to lose to not go down automatically. Berwick finished 5th in the Championship, Civil Service 2nd-bottom in the Lowland League.
10th May 2023 – Just seen Wigan Athletic available – Finished 19th in League 1 – Could be a do-er up-er…
13th May 2023 – Sporting Gijon application unsuccessful, Raith Rovers relegated; they beat Ross County 2-0 but Motherwell also won, 2-1 versus St. Mirren. Motherwell play Hamilton in the relegation play-off.
19th May 2023 – Duisberg application unsuccessful – I might not be quite at a high enough level yet.
21st May 2023 – Motherwell stay in the Premiership following a 5-0 aggregate win over Hamilton.
27th May 2023 – Carlo Ancelotti new manager of Man Utd after Ole Gunnar was sacked after just under 5 years. The BK Hacken job in Sweden becomes available – applied. Also another interesting one the day after – Zeljeznicar in Bosnia – also applied. Lastly Maccabi Haifa in Israel is available, so I’ve applied there too. Might have to brush-up on my Hebrew…
30th May 2023 – Dimitar Berbatov takes charge of Gillingham. Of course he does…
1st June 2023 – Lots of contracts have now run out. It would be good to get a role this month if I’m going to take over somewhere with a conventional season. Charlton (7th in League 1) applied for after Giggsy quits the post. I’m apparently a leading candidate for the Maccabi Haifa job 🙂 Whatever.
2nd June 2023 – Wigan Athletic offer job interview.
Wage cap?…. A big cull required. Plus that loan debt could be a pain.
7th June 2023 – Zeljeznicar Sarajevo offer job interview.
No debts which is nice, smallish wage bill but nothing I couldn’t work to.
8th June 2023 – Maccabi Haifa offer job interview.
Decent amount of money in Israeli football then! They are 3* Rep so might be a step up too far.
10th June 2023 – Wigan interview unsuccessful – Tim Sherwood gets the job after being sacked by Blackburn after 3 years. Charlton Athletic offer job Interview.
Ummm, maybe not – more loan debt than value….
12th June 2023 – Forest Green Rovers offer job interview.
Not too bad for League 2 – No debt and a decent max wage. Think this may be a go-er.
13th June 2023 – Zeljeznicar Sarajevo go with former Yugoslav international Mehmed Bazdarevic, 62, who was recently sacked by Zrinjski Mostar after 2 years.
15th June 2023 – Maccabi Haifa go with Amit Barbash, 39, who left Beitar Tel-Aviv to take the post.
19th June 2023 – Charlton Athletic offer 1-year contract
OK – No Transfer Budget, money’s too tight to mention… Delay.
22nd June 2023 – Forest Green interveiew unsuccessful – they’ve gone with 31yo John Bitting. less rep plus only an U18 Coach role with MK Dons to his name…
26th June 2023 – Delaying Charlton for another week. Just waiting on BK Hacken(SWE).
28th June 2023 – BK Hacken offer job interview…
Looks pretty good – reckon their rep is a bit too high though. They are mid-season though, and 3rd bottom (And should be a lot higher) so could be a good one.
3rd July 2023 – Charlton approach me again… Turning this one down, sound very fraught financially. Felt a bit like Raith but worse.
7th July 2023 – BK Hacken interview unsuccessful – went with Swedish legend Jonas Thern (56yo, 76 Caps) who left AFC Eskilstuna to take the job. Now looking at Zalgiris Vilnius in Lithuania… And a couple of roles in Finland.
11th July 2023 – Odds Ballklubb offer job interview.
Not as big as BK Hacken, and a small loan debt but nothing too bad. gain, these are 3* Rep so might be a bit beyond me.
14th July 2023 – Odds Ballklubb offer a one-year contract…
Think this looks good. Signing. Off we go to Norway 🙂
Odds Ballklubb
- Currently 9th in the Norwegian Eliteserien – 17 games left of the 30 game season
- Season Preview was 4th so under-performing
- 2nd-place finishes last year and in 2020 the best finishes this millenium
- Last silverware was winning the First Division in 2008
- £418k in the bank, currently in the middle of a Europa League 1st Qualifying Round game versus Riga FC
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odds_BK
We need to find somewhere to live – I’m on c. NoK25k/week – call it 100k/month after tax.
NOK13k/month rental – 3 bed, and 6 minutes drive from the ground 🙂
Sweet. With FM21 now out I’ll be limited to a post per season for this FM19 Save, so next time we meet I’ll tell you about 2023 (My Season 6 in FM19). See you soon.