It happened again. I lost motivation to carry on my save (as documented in Managing Leeds: Brave or Stupid?) following some humbling defeats greatly depriving me of the will to pursue the save further. I may carry it on again some time, who knows?

Anyway, I'd like you to introduce you to my newest story. It is again managing Leeds, but under the most challenging circumstances I've ever played with (as Leeds).

In May 2007, Leeds were relegated to League One, the lowest point in the club's history. The club went into administration at the end of the season- sending us down comfortably following a 10-point deduction- and the administrators had a struggle on their hands finding someone to buy the club. HM Revenue & Customs challenged the club's administration (which could have resulted in complete liquidation) as the fans went throughout the summer without knowing if they'll have a team to support. Up stepped Ken Bates with the only good thing he ever did for the club, and bought us back. The Football League allowed it under exceptional circumstances, but docked the club 15 points for breaking rules regarding takeovers (it's long and complicated, I still can't make head or tail of what went on so this is my basic understanding). HMRC dropped their challenge on the eve of the new season. Had they not done so, the club wouldn't have been allowed to start the new season, and they did so due to the takeover.

Leeds were left with a squad that was- once again- built from scratch and a 15-point deficit at the bottom of League One. The eyes of English football were on Elland Road, to see if the once famous Leeds United would crumble and sink further to League Two, or rise boldly in the face of adversity to begin their return. Where the club would return to remains to be seen, but remember this, the story starts with Leeds rock bottom of League One, 15 points behind everyone else, just six years after the club appeared in the Champions League semi-final.

Leeds United have appointed former midfielder and captain Josh Townend as the new manager at Elland Road.

The news comes a week after Dennis Wise and Gus Poyet both decided to leave the club, to make way for new leadership at a club going through turbulent times.

Townend will bring former Ireland manager Steve Stauntion to the club as his assistant, as the duo look to turn the club's fortunes around. United will start the 2007/08 season at the bottom of League One, having been deducted 15 points by the Football League.

The former Leeds captain played for the club for his entire career, spanning from his first professional contract in 1982 to his retirement in 2001. He has signed a five-year deal at Elland Road and has said he wants the club to be in the Premier League by the time his contract runs out in July 2012.

"I believe we have a very strong squad here. We're more than capable of overturning the 15-point deficit as early as possible but we need to be positive from the start"

Townend's debut in management will come at home to Swansea City on August 11.

that 15 point deficit is some handicap, but I reckon you've got what it takes: good luck!

Good luck. I'm looking forward to this

InfraRed: It is a hell of a deficit but on paper, we're one of the best teams in this league, so hopefully it won't be too much of a hindrance

Phoenixx: Cheers mate, good to have you reading along! :)

PRE-SEASON

Stafford Rangers 1-3 Leeds United

Jermaine Beckford 3, 39
David McNiven 7
Tore Andre Flo 82

Leeds United 1-1 Motherwell

Leon Constantine 7
Darren Smith 53

Cobh Ramblers 2-0 Leeds United

Fergus McNally 43
Wayne Murphy 70

(Yeah, me neither)

Waterford United 5-4 Leeds United

Colm Sullivan 2, 76
Cian McLoughlin pen 7
Paul Moran 17
Jermaine Beckford 20, 50
Jonathan Douglas 21, 63
Brian Caffrey 77

Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Leeds United

John Sutton 20
Tore Andre Flo 88

TRANSFERS

In:

Paul Robinson (CB) Millwall £275,000
Robert Snodgrass (R/LW) Livingston £700,000
Kevin Maher (DM) Southend United £150,000
Scott Golbourne (LB) Reading Loan

AUGUST FIXURES

Leeds United 3-3 Swansea City

Kevin Maher 2
Andy Robinson 18
Lubomir Michalik 25, 87
Paul Anderson 39
Daryl Duffy 49

Not an easy opening game by any stretch of the imagination, but we gave a good account of ourselves and came away with a point. Slightly concerning at the back, but the defence will most likely need time to gel.

Leeds United 3-2 Bradford City Carling Cup First Round

Jermaine Beckford 23
Garry Monk 47
Kyle Nix 53
Jonny Howson 65
Andy Hughes 81

It was never going to be an easy fixture, with our next door neighbours fired up and determined to cause an upset in the local derby. They would have pulled it off as well, but we were mentally stronger at the end of the day, and emerged from a tricky cup tie

Millwall 4-3 Leeds United

Lewis Grabban 9,60
Matty Fryatt 62, 67
Leon Constantine 76, 88
Andy Hughes 90

For 7 minutes, we were looking dreadful. In the other 83, we played like we had a chance, but it wasn't enough. Our leaky defending saw us go from 1-0 to 4-0 down, and this result could have been much worse had it not been for the fight back.

Leeds United 1-0 Cheltenham Town

Lubomir Michalik

Admittedly, we should have won this game by a much bigger margin given the quality of the opposition, and the fact a centre-back scored the only goal of the game tells you everything you need to know. But a win is a win, and with a 15-point deficit to start the season with, we'll take any three points we can get.

West Ham United 0-1 Leeds United Carling Cup Second Round

Jermaine Beckford 90+2

This was a game where I saw the full potential of my team. We were written off as long shots to beat Premier League opposition, particularly in our predicament, but we largely matched the Hammers throughout the game. In the end, it took a substitute in Jermaine Beckford to pop up right at the death to steal a famous victory at Upton Park.

PLAYER OF THE MONTH

With the likes of Jermaine Beckford, Robert Snodgrass and Leon Constantine in the squad, no one would've expected Lubomir Michalik to be the club's top scorer. His secret is just getting forward for set pieces, which certainly seems to be paying off. Let's hope we see him stay strong in this part of the game and consolidate his defensive capabilities.

TABLE

We've made a reasonable start to life in League One, but when you have 15 points to make up, reasonable isn't good enough. We must improve next month in order to get a positive points total as soon as possible. For reference, we'd be in 12th without our points deduction.

Good luck man, is by no means going to be an easy feat but one that you can do!