The A-Z of football management: Part 31

The A-Z of football management: Part 31

Photo by Andriyko Podilnyk on Unsplash

Forget the ‘new year, new us’ clichés, we are still in massive amounts of debt. Although that hasn’t stopped me doing some business for the summer.

Another buyout is in the news, this time it’s a S.D. Compostela, another Second Division team so perhaps that’s what needs to happen to get bought out?

Our only game of the winter break is the second round tie of the Spanish Cup, we go to penalties in a game which we should have won in normal time. However the boys are able to do their jobs in the shootout. The victory rewards us with another home time against Malaga in a week’s time.

The win didn’t go unnoticed. Other clubs have taken notice with Celta Vigo offering me the manager’s job. I turned it down, of course.

We hold Málaga to a goalless draw at home, which is another good result as the league games start up again. Our first game is against second place Coslado, at home, the focus of the cup has obviously distracted us as we go down 3–0 — shambles.

We then lose away at Malaga, I am slighlty less concerned about the defeat, but the game takes it’s toll on the squad. We lose both centre-backs for almost a month, then just a day later Eriksson is out for a month to add to the two other members of the squad who are already out.

A narrow home win over former club San Fernando was followed by a nine-goal thriller. At halftime, I substituted keeper Estigarríba after he conceded all three shots on target. He is disciplined following his dismal performance. He accepts his warning and indicates his desire to improve.

Unfortunately, his performance don’t improve over the next two games. He concedes Algeciras' only shot on target as they snatch a point late on, and then, after having two goals ruled out, he allows relegation-fighting Cornellá to take all three points.

I don't have other options—in the first half of the season, it wasn't needed. There aren’t any decent signings to be made on a free, either. We're only saved by the linesman as we edge a win against Ejido to keep the gap at four points from Coslada and Burladés.

Just as the Spanish transfer window shuts, the sprained ankle has forced Martin Eriksson into retirement, and we're short a midfielder until the end of the season. We cope just fine, though, with three straight wins—including one over Burladés.

We do get players back from injury, only for Alex Bailey to miss the next two months. A little annoying, given he can play across the back line.

New boards take over at Oviedo and Toledo, as another job offer is refused—this time from Stockport County. The Inter job comes and goes too. We lose away, but then pick up two wins to take a three-point lead into the last eight games before the playoffs.

We lose another two players for about a month before Racing Santander bids a paltry £750k for José Ramón Pablo. Arguably our best player, he should be fetching a higher fee, although it doesn’t matter anyway — I couldn’t spend it. With the financial situation as it is, I have no choice but to accept it.

Thankfully, the move won’t happen until the summer if it goes through, so at least José can help us with the promotion push until June.

We draw against Manacor — seemingly we can’t beat teams in red this season — but back-to-back wins secure a playoff spot and a seven-point lead thanks to Castillo beating Coslada. We then win three on the spin, before a draw and another win leaves us eight points clear with two games left. Technically, we top the division, but it’s not over until we get promoted.

In the meantime, both Valladolid and Huesca get bought out, yet there’s still not a sniff for us. I go to the board in a vain attempt to secure transfer funds. They tell me funds will be available once the financial situation is sorted. My reply? “So sort it f*cking out then!”

With a win and a draw to end the season, our playoff group is decided: Alicante (3rd in Group 3), Écija (2nd in Group 1), and Real Unión (4th in Group 2).

We get the promotion challenge off to a good start with a narrow home win. Then we travel to Alicante and come away with a defeat — a hefty 3–1 loss as Écija set the pace with a 100% record.

The squad starts to pick up some niggles, and after serving his ban, defender Xavier Díaz García will miss the rest of the campaign.

On-loan striker Dave Burgess puts in a great performance against the group leaders as we beat them 3–0 at home. Real Unión nick a win over Alicante, which tightens the group up. A draw in each of the next two rounds seals the deal, meaning we only need a draw to go up.

As the final game approaches, a job I’ve been eyeing suddenly becomes available.

With just a week of the season remaining, I’ve gone ahead and submitted my application. My next move depends on the upcoming results and, naturally, whether Zaragoza are interested in taking me on.