From the terraces to the top...hopefully!

[Raware]

Career Summary

Season   Team               League          		              Position   Achievements
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2011/12  Coalville Town     Evo-Stik League First Division South       1st      League Champions, Evo-Stik Chairmans Cup Winners
2012/13  Coalville Town     Ryman Isthmian League Premier Division     1st      League Champions
2013/14  Coalville Town     Blue Square Bet North                      1st      League Champions, Isthmian Charity Shield Winners
2014/15  Coalville Town     Blue Square Bet Premier		       13th     -
2015/16  Coalville Town     Blue Square Bet Premier		       3rd      Lost in the play-off final
2016/17  Coalville Town     Blue Square Bet Premier    		       1st      League Champions, FA Trophy Winners
2017/18  Coalville Town     npower League Two  			       4th      Lost in the play-off final
2018/19  Coalville Town     npower League Two			       3rd      Promotion to npower League One (automatic)
2019/20  Coalville Town     npower League One   		       2nd      Promotion to npower Championship (automatic)
2020/21  Coalville Town     npower Championship			       13th     -

Bold indicates promotion
Italic indicates relegation

Trophies

Evo-Stik League First Division South		2011/12

Evo-Stik Chairmans Cup 				2011/12

Ryman Isthmian League Premier Division		2012/13

Blue Square Bet North 				2013/14

Isthmian Charity Shield	 			2013/14

Blue Square Bet Premier				2016/17

FA Trophy					2016/17

[Raware]

I received an offer from Glentoran a few months ago but delayed the decision until the end of the season...



Now they've returned with their offer...

[DazRTaylor]

I wouldn't go. Championship v Irish side? No brainer. Stay put.

[deltablue]

No contest, you should stay.

[DodgeeD]

I'd say stay as well and see if you can take Coalville one step higher

[Nobby_McDonald]

I'd definitely stay at Coalville over going to Glentoran.

[CityAndColour]

Yeah odd move unless you're either sick of England or have some sort of emotional connection with Glentoran. I've made odd/backwards moves before but only if it's to a club I desperately want to manage.

[rancer890]

Reject them.

[cerud]

I'd stay too.

[AK22]

Surely you've got to try and get the Ravens into the 'Promised Land' before jumping ship?

[B.W.G]

Without a doubt you should stay.

[moza2k7]

amazing thread. definitely stay. get a premier league title before you move

[buzz2k7]

Stay !!! Confratz on staying up btw

[Raware]

I wouldn't go. Championship v Irish side? No brainer. Stay put.

No contest, you should stay.

I'd say stay as well and see if you can take Coalville one step higher

I'd definitely stay at Coalville over going to Glentoran.

Yeah odd move unless you're either sick of England or have some sort of emotional connection with Glentoran. I've made odd/backwards moves before but only if it's to a club I desperately want to manage.

Reject them.

I'd stay too.

Surely you've got to try and get the Ravens into the 'Promised Land' before jumping ship?

Without a doubt you should stay.

amazing thread. definitely stay. get a premier league title before you move

Stay !!! Confratz on staying up btw

Wow. Everyone reckons I should stay?! I was actually going to take it as I would like to manage in Northern Ireland at some point...

[B.W.G]

Go for winning the title in England first then do it in a smaller country like Northern Ireland.

[Raware]

Go for winning the title in England first then do it in a smaller country like Northern Ireland.

So...I followed everyone's advice and turned it down. Hope my feet just don't get any more itchier.

[SRL88]

I think you made the right decision in turning it down.

[moza2k7]

has this thread ended? i miss the updates

[Raware]

has this thread ended? i miss the updates

Nope, not ended. I've been in the Ukraine for the past couple of weeks cheering on the boys!

Now I'm back, I'm might fire up FM!

[buzz2k7]

woohoooo glad ur back

[SRL88]

I think you made the right decision to stay.

[AK22]

How was Ukraine? Any exciting tales to share?

[Raware]

woohoooo glad ur back

Thanks buzz

I think you made the right decision to stay.

I think so too.

How was Ukraine? Any exciting tales to share?

It was an unbelievable experience! As for tales...I have lots .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfsDi1FcWXk

We're in that crowd somewhere singing our hearts out! What an amaing night. Went to the game, won 3-2 stayed out until 7am, slept on a park bench for an hour or so, got up, went to the Irish bar for breakfast and carried on until 4am the next morning! Oh...and was also drinking with Kammy and Jeff!!!

[Raware]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SKok...eature=related

Already planning our trip for France 2016! Brazil 2014 is a bit too far away but it depends how expensive it'll be.

[Nobby_McDonald]

It's bad enough watching England play on the tv, never mind spending a fortune to go to Ukraine to watch them.

[Raware]

It's bad enough watching England play on the tv, never mind spending a fortune to go to Ukraine to watch them.

Tell me about it Nobby! Was well worth the money though as it was an incredible experience and one I'll remember forever.

[deltablue]

You were following England and you had a great experience!

[cerud]

That's an amazing trip! I've already had the wife promise that we'll go to a few Premier League matches whenever we make it to England I've got her hooked on MLS now too!

[Jason the Yank]

Oh...and was also drinking with Kammy and Jeff!!!

It's unbelievable!

[AK22]

Looks like you had a great time

I think Brazil 2014 will have a fantastic atmosphere, and could turn out to be one of the best WC for fans participation (and stadium sell-outs!). Definitely worth going, if you can IMO

[Nobby_McDonald]

You were following England and you had a great experience!

He must have taken some happy pills.

[Raware]

You were following England and you had a great experience!

I was just as surprised as you!

That's an amazing trip! I've already had the wife promise that we'll go to a few Premier League matches whenever we make it to England. I've got her hooked on MLS now too!

That's what I like to hear! If you do make a visit to the UK, a few Premier League matches are a must! Hopefully, after today it'll be Forest in the Premier League that you'll be watching!

It's unbelievable!

A very nice bloke. Down to earth too.

Looks like you had a great time.

I think Brazil 2014 will have a fantastic atmosphere, and could turn out to be one of the best WC for fans participation (and stadium sell-outs!). Definitely worth going, if you can IMO

I think so too (well, never better than Italia '90 imo but I guess the nostalgia from 1990 will always be with me). I'll be tempted to go if I can get tickets.

He must have taken some happy pills.

Just beer Nobby !

[Nobby_McDonald]

Often has the same effect.

[Rick87]

I've just read through this, You've done an amazing job...with my local team too.

[Raware]

I've just read through this, You've done an amazing job...with my local team too.

Thanks Rick87 . If only it happened to Coalville IRL eh?

[Raware]

Coalville Town

Season 2021/22: Preview

League expectation
-------------------------
npower Championship : Board expectation - Safe mid table position : Media expectation - 18th (out of 24)

Cup expectations
---------------------
FA Cup : 3rd round

Carling Cup : 2nd round

Transfer budget : £1.7 million
Wage budget : £62k p/w
Current wage bill : £59.5k p/w

Season tickets sold : 1639 (+25 from last season)

My views for the season ahead… : With such a surprisingly great debut season for us in the Championship which saw us finish 13th (no where near 24th as the so called ‘experts’ predicted), this year is probably the most important year of all in my 10 year tenancy at the club. While there’s no doubt I want to build on our progress, the dreaded 2nd season scenario is never too far away and we have to be careful that we don’t fall in to that trap. To help us try and achieve that, during the pre-season transfer window I’ve brought in Chris Roberts from Chesterfield for £325k, Jazz Martin (who joins us on a permanent basis after 2 successful loan seasons with us) from Manchester United on a free transfer, Ivan Lazic from Mladost CKB on a free, Petr Kadlec from Hradec Kralove for £55k, Ian Morrison from Coventry City for £300k, Marko Vesovic on a free transfer, Phil Ferguson on a seasons long loan from Manchester United, Vanco Veljanovski from Varazdin and Norman Kurauzvione from Pribram who I smashed the clubs transfer record to bring in.

Out the door saw a few old faces go as I reluctantly said goodbye to Calum Elliot, Antonio Danciu, Mihai Popa and Laste Dombaxe (who in is 9 years with us broke the club appearance record as he accumulated 303 league appearances for us) as they unfortunately were no longer able to perform at the level we’re now at.

While there’s no doubt our squad is fairly thin on the ground (just 23 squad players), I’m fairly confident that we’ve strengthened enough to keep us in the division for another season and I’ll be aiming for another mid table finish. Given our, not poor, but lowly financial predicament, it’s all about consolidation at the minute.

[Raware]

Coalville Town

Season 2021/22 : Mid-season update

npower Championship : We’ve had a great first half of the season winning 13 out of our 23 games which leaves us sitting surprisingly in a play-off place at the halfway point of the season. Much of that is down to our front pair John Hargreaves who’s already netted double what he did in all of last season and our new signing Norman Kurauzvione who’s settled in well scoring 8 goals in 24 games as well as our Irish midfielder Willie Foley who’s chipped in with some important goals and assists. We’re still a little thin on the ground though as both of our Montenegrin players have left during the January transfer window although I have brought in two players in the form of promising Brazilian winger Marcao and Scottish goalkeeper Craig Holmes (who’s been touted as the next Craig Gordon) to try and make up our squad numbers. We’ve also agreed to sign young promising Scottish striker Mark Maxwell but he doesn’t sign until the summer once his contract has expired.

As for the cups and as usual, we’re out of the Carling Cup after Liverpool disposed of us in the 4th round, although this is the furthest we’ve ever reached in this cup which is pleasing and we’ve drawn league leaders Newcastle United in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.

My aims for the remainder of the season… : I’m very tempted to say a sneaky play-off push but there’s still a long way to go and with such a small squad and with injuries and suspensions coming in to play now, plus no transfer fee or wages to offer, I guess I have to be realistic and aim for a mid-table to top half finish. Still excellent progress though if we can achieve that.

[cerud]

The second year slump seems to be non-existant. Great run of form.

[Raware]

It seems so ...although FM being FM, the inevitable drop in morale/form is always just around the corner

[deltablue]

Still be good being in the playoff hunt.

[B.W.G]

Very promising first half to the season,hopefully you can keep that up and claim a playoff spot.

[SRL88]

Very good first half of the season.

[Raware]

Still be good being in the playoff hunt.

Very promising first half to the season,hopefully you can keep that up and claim a playoff spot.

Very good first half of the season.

Cheers fellas. It would be nice although if we do drop off the pace, I won't be too disappointed as safety and consolidation was my only priority this season. It is getting quite frustrating though with the lack of transfer money and wages meaning we're missing out on a few great players who's contracts are expiring at the end of the season. We just can't offer them any kind of wage .

[Rikulec]

I've just read through this and I have to say it's a fantastic thread, just get that English Hero before you jump ship!

[Raware]

I've just read through this and I have to say it's a fantastic thread, just get that English Hero before you jump ship!

Thanks Rikulec . Glad you're enjoying it . I think I will have to stay to try and take The Ravens to the Premier League

[Raware]

With just a few games of the season left I received this in my inbox .



Makes things a little easier for us and gives us a chance to strengthen the squad ready for next season

[Jrooney2]

Fantastic thread, what happened to Lynch. Also please stay with the ravens untill the Premier league.

[cerud]

I've never seen a message like that!

[Raware]

Fantastic thread, what happened to Lynch. Also please stay with the ravens untill the Premier league.

Thanks . Lynch retired a season after leaving us and is currently a free agent. I've tried signing him as a coach, he agrees terms and then rejects the offer .

I've never seen a message like that!

Me neither...I'll definitely have more of them though . I've already spent the money...before they decide to take it away from me!

[SRL88]

That money will come in handy.

[Raware]

Coalville Town

Season 2021/22 : Review

(*NB: Due to a bug in which the competitions cannot be filtered, Carling Cup and FA Cup results are included in the Championship fixtures)

npower Championship/npower Championship progress/npower Championship fixtures : We flew out of the blocks at the start of the season and as we hit the midway point of the season, we found ourselves sitting in a play-off place. As expected though, we fell off the pace in the second half of the season due to one reason or another (injuries and suspensions, not to mention lack of depth in the squad) and ended the season finishing 9th, just narrowly missing out on a play-off place.

FA Cup : For the 3rd year in a row we were sent packing in the 5th round as Liverpool ended any hopes we had, beating us comfortably 2-0.

Carling Cup : More improvements in this cup as we reached the 4th round (the furthest we’ve ever reached in this cup) before again, Liverpool sent us on our way.

Transfers : Loads more activity in the transfer windows for us as we spent a net of £700k as most of our targets came in, in pre-season. As touched upon in the pre-season update, those that arrived were Chris Roberts from Chesterfield for £325k, Jazz Martin (who joined us on a permanent basis after 2 successful loan seasons with us) from Manchester United on a free transfer, Ivan Lazic from Mladost CKB on a free, Petr Kadlec from Hradec Kralove for £55k, Ian Morrison from Coventry City for £300k, Marko Vesovic on a free transfer, Phil Ferguson on a seasons long loan from Manchester United, Vanco Veljanovski from Varazdin and Norman Kurauzvione from Pribram who I smashed the clubs transfer record to bring in as well as Marcao from Guarani on a free transfer and Craig Holmes from Motherwell for £100k in the January transfer window.

Squad : I had no concerns about the quality in our squad to avoid a relegation battle but I had slight concerns about the lack of depth in our squad to cover injuries, suspensions, etc. And after our great start to the season, my concerns seemed to be proven right as injuries and suspensions to key players meant that we dropped off the pace slightly to just miss out on the play-offs. Still, the players did fantastically well as John Hargreaves produced a season that we have grown to expect of him as he netted 21 times in 48 appearances while his strike partner Norman Kurauzvione had a steady first season with us as he hit the back of the net 10 times in 46 games. One other player that I was particularly happy with was our Irish midfielder Willie Foley who scored 9 times as well as grabbing some valuable assists and with that, the attraction of clubs like Hearts and Middlesbrough.

Finances : Still looking steady as we have over £2 million.

My views of the season… : A fantastic follow up season in the Championship for us which can be renowned for encountering the 2nd season syndrome. Considering consolidation was my only aim this year, to be in with a shout of the play-offs and only just narrowly miss out on them is a signal that we’re making great progress.

My aims for next season… : We need to improve the squad again if we’re to improve on this season and I’ll be looking to do that in the off season to give us a chance of building a realistic chance of making a promotion push next season.

Career Summary

Season   Team               League          		              Position   Achievements
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2011/12  Coalville Town     Evo-Stik League First Division South       1st      League Champions, Evo-Stik Chairmans Cup Winners
2012/13  Coalville Town     Ryman Isthmian League Premier Division     1st      League Champions
2013/14  Coalville Town     Blue Square Bet North                      1st      League Champions, Isthmian Charity Shield Winners
2014/15  Coalville Town     Blue Square Bet Premier		       13th     -
2015/16  Coalville Town     Blue Square Bet Premier		       3rd      Lost in the play-off final
2016/17  Coalville Town     Blue Square Bet Premier    		       1st      League Champions, FA Trophy Winners
2017/18  Coalville Town     npower League Two  			       4th      Lost in the play-off final
2018/19  Coalville Town     npower League Two			       3rd      Promotion to npower League One (automatic)
2019/20  Coalville Town     npower League One   		       2nd      Promotion to npower Championship (automatic)
2020/21  Coalville Town     npower Championship			       13th     -
2021/22  Coalville Town     npower Championship			       9th      -

Bold indicates promotion
Italic indicates relegation

[Raware]

As I reach the end of the season, this popped in to my inbox...



...hmmm, not sure what to do...

[Jrooney2]

Stay is what I'd do.

[cerud]

You're doing great with Coalville Town. I can understand if you want to leave though just for the change.

[SRL88]

Yeah stay .

[B.W.G]

I'd stay,you've done so much and I reckon you could achieve even more with Coalville.

[deltablue]

I think staying is everyone's default position now

[Nobby_McDonald]

Another great Coalville season.

I say stay.

[Raware]

Stay is what I'd do.

You're doing great with Coalville Town. I can understand if you want to leave though just for the change.

Yeah stay.

I'd stay,you've done so much and I reckon you could achieve even more with Coalville.

I think staying is everyone's default position now

Another great Coalville season.

I say stay.

Thanks for all of your input guys . I was really tempted to take it as progress is getting quite slow now and with no silverware in 6 years, the lure of some in Scotland was enticing me . I've decided to reject it in the end in the hope of taking Coalville Town "from the terraces to the top"

[Raware]

Coalville Town

Season 2022/23: Preview

League expectation
-------------------------
npower Championship : Board expectation - Respectable league position : Media expectation - 11th (out of 24)

Cup expectations
---------------------
FA Cup : 4th round

Carling Cup : 3rd round

Transfer budget : £4.1 million
Wage budget : £77.9k p/w
Current wage bill : £92.2k p/w

Season tickets sold : 1662 (+23 from last season)

My views for the season ahead… : Having cemented our place as a strong Championship side now and given the board’s and media’s expectations of a mid-table/top half finish for us, my only aim this season is for just that. Although we only just narrowly missed out on a play-off place last season, I could be tempted to say we could push for promotion this year but I don’t want to put any more unneeded pressure on us and undo all of the good work we’ve done so far. To help me try and achieve my goals this season I’ve blown my transfer budget of £4 million during the pre-season transfer window and brought in Filipe Resende from Olhanense for £1 million, Lapa from Krasnodar who I smashed the clubs transfer record to get in at £2.7 milion, Simon Walls from Torquay United, Phil Ferguson from Manchester United (after spending last season on loan with us), Fletcher Chenoweth from Bournemouth, Jazz Richards from Leeds United, Joseph Shaughnessy from Linfield, Bife from Paris St-Germain and Danny Baker from Totteham Hotspur all on free transfers and Carl Welch from Manchester United for £500k. Out of the door saw 9 players leave as we recouped just under a million pounds, which has helped us a little but we still sit nearly £2 million in debt and are £14k p/w over our wage budget. Hopefully a good cup run can make amends for our over-expenditure .

[Nobby_McDonald]

I had no silverware in something like 14 seasons in my Newcastle Town save until I dominated League Two last season. It's not all about trophies.

[Raware]

I had no silverware in something like 14 seasons in my Newcastle Town save until I dominated League Two last season. It's not all about trophies.

It is Nobby

[Rikulec]

This time you'll make it and you heard it here first.

[cerud]

You've really grown the Ravens over the years. Seeing them as a consistent Championship League club must be good. Think there's potential to challenge for the Premier League in a couple seasons?

[Raware]

This time you'll make it and you heard it here first.

Hope you're right

You've really grown the Ravens over the years. Seeing them as a consistent Championship League club must be good. Think there's potential to challenge for the Premier League in a couple seasons?

Thanks cerud. It's very satisfying to see a club I've taken from the Evo Stik League First Division South to the npower Championship (and keep them there), something I've never managed to do before. Hopefully, I'll be able to take them to the top flight and get that English Hero achievement. I think the potential is definitely there, it's just fulfilling that potential. We're a very small club with small facilities, small finances and a small reputation meaning it's going to be difficult but I'm quietly confident that in a few seasons we could be in a position to challenge for promotion.

[Rikulec]

It's gonna be a lot easier with £40m every year from TV money.

[deltablue]

It'll be worth waiting for, the money can really help you push on.

[Nobby_McDonald]

It is Nobby

Not when you don't have a chance to win one in 14 years.

[Raware]

It's gonna be a lot easier with £40m every year from TV money.

It'll be worth waiting for, the money can really help you push on.

Definitely. It's just getting there first

Not when you don't have a chance to win one in 14 years.

You had the Johnstone's Paint Pot to play for

[Raware]

Coalville Town

Season 2022/23 : Mid-season update

npower Championship : As we reach January we find ourselves sitting in the dizzy heights of a play-off place with half of the season still left to play . Thanks to some great performances which has seen us taking a leaf out of Arsenal’s book and winning games 1-0 (8 games have been won 1-0) we’ve confounded the critics (and myself) by looking like genuine challengers for promotion this season. Much of that is down to Norman Kurauzvione who’s finally looking worth every bit of the £1.5 million I splashed out on him last season as he’s grabbed 10 goals in 17 games. However, with those performances have come the attention of some of the bigger clubs, namely Chelsea and Derby as both teams have put an offer in for him, which my wonderful chairman has accepted on my behalf . While I understand an offer like that is a massive amount of money for a club like us and with us currently sitting £3 million in debt, I can reason to some extent as to why the chairman accepted the bid, but for us to build on the success we’ve had in recent times, we should be looking to keep our better players. With Norman Kurauzvione now almost certain to sign for Chelsea or Derby, the pressure will be back on John Hargreaves, who’s struggled to find his form from last season, to find the net for us.

As for the cups and it’s the same old story in the Carling Cup for us we were knocked out in the 3rd round by an impressive Norwich City side. Our FA Cup 3rd round tie is the next fixture up for us and given the fact that we’ve drawn Exeter City at Coalville Stadium, we should be looking to progress.

My aims for the remainder of the season… : Given our fantastic start to the season I would’ve said promotion was a real possibility for us but given the fact now that Kurauzvione and his goals will almost certainly be leaving us in the January transfer window, it makes the prospect of promotion a little more difficult unless we can bring someone else in straight away. With the funds from the Kurauzvione transfer only serving to help us get back in the black financially, it looks unlikely that anyone else will be coming in straight away.

[cerud]

Damn Chairmen...although that would completely erase your debt. And you're only a point off of 2nd and automatic promotion! The second half of the season should be interesting

[SRL88]

Cracking first half to the season. You are nicely poised.

[B.W.G]

Excellent first half to the season,hopefully it can continue for you this season.

[iHeadHunta x]

Great start mate!

[deltablue]

Hope you can hang in there in the upper reaches of the table.

[Raware]

Damn Chairmen...although that would completely erase your debt. And you're only a point off of 2nd and automatic promotion! The second half of the season should be interesting

Damn chairmen indeed! Considering how much I've changed the fortunes of Coalville in recent times, the damn chairman and board never grant any of my requests . Kurauzvione went to Derby in the end for £3.5 million, and as expected the goals have dried up. Should make a very interesting second half of the season.

Cracking first half to the season. You are nicely poised.

Excellent first half to the season,hopefully it can continue for you this season.

Great start mate!

Hope you can hang in there in the upper reaches of the table.

Thanks guys. I'm hoping, despite the sale of Kurauzvione, we can maintain challenging for a place in the upper end of the table, maybe even an outside promotion push.

[Nobby_McDonald]

You had the Johnstone's Paint Pot to play for

Not when I don't care about it.

[Jason the Yank]

Not when I don't care about it.

Cups suck arse. [/LLM]

[Raware]

Coalville Town

Season 2022/23 : Review

(*NB: Due to a bug in which the competitions cannot be filtered, Carling Cup and FA Cup results are included in the Championship fixtures)

npower Championship/npower Championship progress/npower Championship fixtures : We had a great first half of the season which left us sitting in a play-off place by the new year but given the fact that we lost our top striker, Norman Kurauzvione in January, thanks to the chairman stepping in and accepting a £3.5 million bid from Derby, I was cautious that we’d fall off the pace and struggle to score goals in the second half of the season. That didn’t happen though and we continued to maintain our form (notching up 8 straight wins at one point) to go on and claim 2nd spot and with that, an automatic promotion place to the Premier League!

FA Cup : After 3 consecutive seasons reaching the 5th round, we could only make it to the 4th round this season as Fulham easily disposed of us.

Carling Cup : An early exit for us again in this cup as Norwich beat us 1-0.

Transfers : Our only activity in the transfer windows were at the start of the season which saw us bring in Filipe Resende from Olhanense for £1 million, Lapa from Krasnodar who I smashed the clubs transfer record to get in at £2.7 milion, Simon Walls from Torquay United, Phil Ferguson from Manchester United (after spending last season on loan with us), Fletcher Chenoweth from Bournemouth, Jazz Richards from Leeds United, Joseph Shaughnessy from Linfield, Bife from Paris St-Germain and Danny Baker from Totteham Hotspur all on free transfers and Carl Welch from Manchester United for £500k.

Squad : I had no concerns about the quality we had in the squad given our recent acquisitions, only a lack of depth. But given our small wage budget (78k), small in comparison to the majority of Championship teams, we had no choice but to remain with a small squad. They did magnificently though even with the loss of our top scorer in January with John Hargreaves upping his game since Kurauzvione’s departure to go on and net 15 goals for the season. Willie Foley had another fine season grabbing 9 goals and 11 assists while Bife had a decent debut season for us, netting 8 goals from midfield. Now we’ll be playing Premier League football next season though, I have to look at bringing some quality additions into the squad to prevent an immediate return to the Championship.

Finances : Not looking great as we’re nearly £8 million in debt (£5 million of that though is due to a stadium expansion). Premier League TV money and attendance money should help to get us back in the black soon though.

My views of the season… : A tremendous season for us culminating in promotion after just 3 years in the Championship. Considering the spine of our team hasn’t changed much, we’ve made tremendous progress in such a short period of time.

My aims for next season… : Two things…1) Improve the squad with some quality additions 2) Avoid relegation.

Career Summary

Season   Team               League          		              Position   Achievements
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2011/12  Coalville Town     Evo-Stik League First Division South       1st      League Champions, Evo-Stik Chairmans Cup Winners
2012/13  Coalville Town     Ryman Isthmian League Premier Division     1st      League Champions
2013/14  Coalville Town     Blue Square Bet North                      1st      League Champions, Isthmian Charity Shield Winners
2014/15  Coalville Town     Blue Square Bet Premier		       13th     -
2015/16  Coalville Town     Blue Square Bet Premier		       3rd      Lost in the play-off final
2016/17  Coalville Town     Blue Square Bet Premier    		       1st      League Champions, FA Trophy Winners
2017/18  Coalville Town     npower League Two  			       4th      Lost in the play-off final
2018/19  Coalville Town     npower League Two			       3rd      Promotion to npower League One (automatic)
2019/20  Coalville Town     npower League One   		       2nd      Promotion to npower Championship (automatic)
2020/21  Coalville Town     npower Championship			       13th     -
2021/22  Coalville Town     npower Championship			       9th      -
2022/23  Coalville Town     npower Championship			       2nd      Promotion to the Premier League (automatic)

Bold indicates promotion
Italic indicates relegation

[Rikulec]

Finally! Congratulations.

[B.W.G]

Massive congrats on Promotion.Coalville hitting the big time now

[Raware]

Finally! Congratulations.

Massive congrats on Promotion.Coalville hitting the big time now

Cheers fellas! Looking forward to seeing Premier League football in little ol' sleepy Coalville

[Raware]

With promotion comes a change in leadership as our chairman has decided to step down. I can’t say I’m disappointed as over the years we haven’t seen eye to eye on many things with more times than not, him rejecting any request I made. However, the new chairman doesn’t sound much better with no sign of extra funds being made available .

[SRL88]

Great work on promotion .

[cerud]

Awesome on promotion! Too bad the new chairman seems to be a carbon copy of your last one.

[Raware]

Great work on promotion .

Awesome on promotion! Too bad the new chairman seems to be a carbon copy of your last one.

Thanks guys

[Raware]

Thanks...but no thanks.

[deltablue]

Well done reaching the promised land!

[Raware]

Well done reaching the promised land!

Thanks delta. It happened quicker than I expected .

[Raware]

Coalville Town

Season 2023/24: Preview

League expectation
-------------------------
Barclays Premier League : Board expectation - Stay clear of relegation : Media expectation - 20th (out of 20)

Cup expectations
---------------------
FA Cup : 5th round

Carling Cup : 4th round

Transfer budget : £10 million
Wage budget : £182k p/w
Current wage bill : £182k p/w

Season tickets sold : 3400 (+1738 from last season)

My views for the season ahead… : With ourselves now in the Premier League, our only expectation this season is to avoid an immediate return to the Championship. To help us try and achieve that, the board has given me £10 million to spend plus a generous £182k per week to spend on wages which I’ve used to bring in Ben Carter from Chelsea on a free transfer, Ahmed Ragab from Vannes OC on a free transfer, Jack Graham from Villareal for £4.5 million, Kevan Nash from Stoke City for £3 million, Patrick Carrick on a free transfer after his contract expired at Arsenal, Blake Young from Tottenham Hotspur for £2.5 million and Neil Hughes and Connor Westlake on free transfers, who both have gone out on loan to get some first team experience.

It’s going to be a difficult season for us no doubt about that, especially given the first 9 fixtures of the season . If we can get out of those relatively unscathed and pick up a few points, plus given the additions we’ve made, I think we might just have enough quality to escape the drop, providing of course we can stay clear of injuries and suspensions.

[B.W.G]

Some good signings made,as for the fixture list,that is one evil start.

[Rikulec]

3400 season tickets in the Prem, I'd expect a few times more.

[cerud]

Looking forward to the 1st year in the top flight!

[AK22]

Congrats on reaching the Premier League! Will be interesting to see how you fair- it's only going to get easier after those opening nine fixtures!!

[Jason the Yank]

Damn, the fixture computer was not kind to you.

[Jason the Yank]

3400 season tickets in the Prem, I'd expect a few times more.

Only 33,000 people in Coalville, says Wiki. So that's 10% of the city holding season tickets.

[iHeadHunta x]

Incredible achievement to finally get to the promised land, congratulations

[deltablue]

Oh dear, talk about being thrown in at the deep end. Villa away might not be as bad as the rest.

[ashton321]

Good luck mate, great work getting to the Prem

[SRL88]

Good luck in your battle against relegation.