http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww19/greasy_chip_butty/SUFC%20Story%20Banner_zps3oip6efi.png
TUESDAY JUNE 2, 2015
Pirelli Stadium, Burton
TUESDAY JUNE 2, 2015
Pirelli Stadium, Burton
Slowly, I pulled up the handbrake and the car came to a stop in front of the main offices at the Pirelli Stadium. Looking out of the windscreen, I saw the sign – MANAGER – in front of the bonnet and I gave a wry smile as I reflected on what had been an incredibly busy couple of days for me. Sitting in the car, I thought back to the day I had been appointed the new manager of Burton Albion just a year ago and remembered the excitement that I had felt pulling into this very parking space as I embarked on my first managerial position in professional football. In contrast, despite the promotion campaign and the new football season on the horizon, I had to admit to myself to being disappointed to be here. If the Burton Albion fans – or The Brewers as they preferred to be known – only knew what I was feeling right now, my hero status in the town would be in severe jeopardy.
“I can’t deny I’m not interested in the role,” I had told the Burton journalists when they asked me, “But I am happy here at Burton Albion and I will be regardless of what happens.” Honesty had proved to be the right call with many fans pleased to hear that I remained committed to the Brewers and understanding the pull of the job I was being linked with. “Sheffield United is the club I supported as a boy, the club I played for all my career,” I had continued, “I’m not going to lie about the fact I would listen to what they had to say but – whatever happens with United – if I am here at the start of pre-season, I will continue to do everything I can to ensure that Albion continue to do well.” Although a few fans had been annoyed with the fact I made my interest public, most of them understood and supported my right to speak to the Blades. Immediately, the betting companies had me down as favourite for the job and some even stopped taking bets last Thursday when – though I don’t know how they knew – I was interviewed for the job at Beautiful Down Town Bramall Lane.
Unfortunately, that was as close as I appeared to have come to landing the job and, from that point, my odds lengthened and the sources quoting me as the next manager dried up. The interview had gone well, my passion for the job was clear to United’s joint owner Kevin McCabe and the Chairman, Jim Phipps. Leaving the hotel in Brussels that morning, I felt confident I had impressed the pair of them and knew I must be in with a good chance of landing “my dream job,” as Neil Warnock termed it fifteen years ago. One name that had constantly been linked beside mine was that of former Scunthorpe United, Southampton and Reading boss, Nigel Adkins, and the newspapers today were quoting that United would name him as the new manager that afternoon. Myself, on the other hand, I heard nothing more from the Blades and now, with pre-season training at Burton just three weeks away, I was back at the Pirelli Stadium ready to begin plotting our League 1 campaign where we would, amongst others, face the Blades.
http://www.footballgroundguide.com/images/image/product/property/pirelli-stadium-burton-albion-fc-external-view-1419075787.jpg
“Good morning,” I called out to Jenny on the Reception desk as I walked in, trying to sound enthusiastic, “Are we all well?” She smiled over at me and gave me the thumbs up.
“Good to see you, Andy,” she replied, “I was a little worried that we’d lost you for a minute there.” Although she had no idea of it, her words twisted in my chest and I offered a fake smile before carrying on to my office below the main stand. Closing the door and sitting down at my desk, I looked around and reflected once more. Photographs adorned the walls of our triumphs last season, the promotion celebrations with our delighted supporters who had never witnessed anything like this in their lives until now. A yellow and black scarf with THE BREWERS – LEAGUE 1 2015-2016 emblazoned across it, the single greatest achievement in this club’s history. Through the window, I could see happy, smiling club officials selling season tickets, planning the launch of the new home kit for next week, preparing for the new season where Burton Albion, regardless of their performance, were guaranteed their highest ever league position.
Yet here I sat, alone, feeling sorry for myself. Under the circumstances, I could have steeled myself for the upcoming challenge and promised myself that I would make United pay when they visited the Pirelli or when I lead my troops into Bramall Lane but I couldn’t even manage that. Despite my promises to remain as committed as ever to Burton Albion, deep down now I knew that my time here was now forever tainted as my failed opportunity to take my dream job.
And then the phone rang …
