[Tiger Fan]

WHERE TO BEGIN MY SOCCER MANAGEMENT CAREER
I knew I wanted to start in either England or Scotland but had no preference as to what team. Browsing the SI messageboard I saw some threads on the challenge of starting your career unemployed and taking the first job offered. Sounds good to me so I began the league strictly as an observer, with a nice stack of resumes ready to go out on a moments notice.

I set myself up as a 40 year old Canadian (not sure if my nationality will hurt my employment chances in Britian or not) and starting watching. Tournament games were being played, which incidentally you can watch either in their entirety or just highlights with a 2-d game engine - or quick sim right through. I watched two Mexican clubs square off in something called the North American Champions Cup final. Pumas tied Monterrey 2-2 in the game to win the two game total goal series 4-2 and claim the (I guess) famous champions cup. Looking over the history of the award I can see it has been handed out every year since 1960 and a pair of MLS teams - Los Angeles and DC United have each won it once.

2 days after the Champions Cup game I received an email notifying me New England of the MLS had fired it's manager and was looking for a replacement. I was tempted but decided not to apply because I wanted to learn my craft in Britian. I checked the Job Security chart - which is a great in game list telling me who was in jeopardy of getting canned - and saw a couple of Brazilian managers and 2 more MLS clubs saying their bosses were on very shaky ground. Since the European season had not yet got into full gear there was little action on that front. I would have to wait patiently.

We were now closing in on the end of August and the European Leagues were beginning their slate of games. Two more MLS clubs fired their managers but again I resisted the tempation and decided not to apply. On the pitch (see I am learning soccer terms as we speak) I learned that Porto won the European Super Cup on penalty kicks after playing Valencia to a 1-1 draw. Near as I can figure the Super Cup is a 1 game challenge between the winner of the European Champions Cup and Euro Cup from the previous season.

On September 21st I received great news. Peter Taylor had resigned from his post of manager of Hull City in English League One to accept the head coaching job with San Jose in the MLS. I immediately dispatched an email to Hull City chairman Adam Pearson expressing my interest in the job. Hull City looked like a perfect start for my career as they were 5-4-0 (European display Wins-ties-losses) and at the top of the table in England's League One. The Hull board sent me an email confirming they had received my application and would inform me of their decision in the near future.

A week later I had still not heard from Hull City when another job looked to be opening up. St Mirren was in the cellar of the Scottish first division and rumours were flying that embattled boss Gus MacPherson was about to get the axe. A reporter asked me if I would be interested in the job should it become available. I replied "Of Course" and was delighted a day later when I read that many people saw me as the ideal candidate for the job. However, St Mirren's chairman Stewart Gilmour insisted that no decision had been made on MacPherson's future.

By mid-October I had still not heard from Hull City and St Mirren had not pulled the trigger on MacPherson yet so I continued to observe. Another job looked close to opening with Ayr of the Scottish second division. Again I expressed interest in the position should it become available. I was shocked a day later to read in the paper that someone from Ayr had said I have no chance of being offered the job and my decision to tell the media of my interest smells of desperation.

A week later after earning just 4 points from 10 games St Mirren fired MacPherson. My application went in the same day. A day later I learned Hull City had hired Mark Wright away from Chester so it looked like St Mirren was my only option. Four days later my management career began as St Mirren Chairman Stewart Gilmour offered me the job. I was excited to begin but that was tempered a fair bit with the accompanying note from Gilmour which stated due to the club's perilous financial situation there will be no transfer funds available. However, Gilmour added that he thought that might appeal to my desire for a challenge.


ST MIRREN - Fuels my desire for a challenge
Challenge. That is an understatement. Gilmour and the board expect me to steer clear of relegation this season despite the fact that the club sits dead last in the 10 team league and are 8 points away from the 8th position which would allow us to remain in the first division. On top of that I have no money for transfers and no offense to speak of. We have just 4 goals for in 10 games and have allowed 23 against in the same period.

The good news. With no knowledge of the league or my team I get to prepare the squad for a big home game with 7th place Falkirk tomorrow. Counting that contest I have 26 games to turn things around and salvage the season. So much for the good news.

Tomorrow the fun begins.