Ambitions of the Sunday league kind

Shock from the Hawthorns as Clarke resigns

Many people alike were left in shock as rumours confirmed. Steve Clarke, the new manager of West Bromwich Albion has resigned, having been at the club a matter of days. The club, its fans and players have been shocked about this shock decision.

Chris Brunt told us "We the players are quite surprised. He had told us of his aims and they were reasonable enough to acheive but this is a major set back."

West Brom decided to appoint their recently hired coach 25 year old Scottish international Alfred James, as the replacement for the time being, with the season fast approaching. He took the job following spells at sunday league clubs Kingston Athletic and Chelsford United. He told us "West Brom are a fantastic club and have the players that we can push for a mid table finish, top half finish if we sign the right players."

Good start, keep it up

2013-02-24 20:10#82596 Blue : Good start, keep it up

Cheers man. Its comments like that that keep me motivated do to this and my story on fm crowd with burnley.

Hello, Alfred. I'm Thomas from the local midlands paper. Shall we begin this interview by asking "What does it feel like moving up to manager so quickly in football"?

It's really exciting and nerve racking at the same time. I only joined west brom as a coach last week, as they needed a new coach, but inside 48 hours Steve had quit and Jeremy asked me to manage the club, for at least the season.

Last season west brom did alright, until the loss of Roy Hodgson. Do you think you can emulate or do better than him?

I certainly hope so. I mean, he was good enough for England, so that means I have a lot to live up to, so I will have to work hard to make sure this club continues on the way towards the top.

Do you have any plans for the staff here? will you keep them or bring in your own?

I plan to do a bit of both. Some of the staff members I have lined up have the ability to take the club forward by working with the current staff.

How about transfers? Rumours have you linked to sign players like Stocker....

May I just but in to say that there is no plan to sign Stocker. But there are to sign many players from youngsters to experienced players. this will add a needed boost to take the club to the thing they want and that should be to make this club an established premier league team, then stay there.

Any player in particular?

Sorry, don't tell people my transfer targets in public. anyway thank you for the interview.

Club Watch- tonight's club: West Bromwhich Albion

Hello sports fans and welcome to "club watch" where we have a look at the clubs preparing for the premier league, and what they did in pre-season. Tonight we look at crisis club, West Brom, who had lost manager Steve Clarke within a few days of his appointment, to be replaced by Alfred James, a young man with sunday league credentials. He, himself, was the former player of sunday league side Kingston Athletic (Pretend Club) and helped them to the title in their region. He decided to try his trade at a full time club, and was appointed coach at West Brom before being appointed manager. This has been a big few months for him, and we wish him the best of luck.

First off, we will have a look at the transfers that the scot has bought in to his club:


James has made the bold move in selling striker Marc-Antoine Fortune to league rivals Q.P.R. who, if the rumours are true, are thinking of replacing Mark Hughes. Managers like Steve Clarke and Eddie Howe have been linked, but Harry Redknapp appears to be the favourite for the job. Elsewhere, Billy Jones, a fan favourite, has joined reading for £6 million. Fans where sad to see him go, but happy at the amount received for the player. Jerome Thomas and Boaz Myhill clearly weren't wanted by James, as they where shipped off for free.



Some good signings in the views of certain fans. Firstly John Flanagan, the young Liverpool right back was bought in on loan. Next in where three Brazilians, two with big futures and one with a career he wants to get back on track. Wellington Nem and Wallace are the two players with huge futures, snapped up for a combined fee of nearly £8 million, while former PSV and Tottenham keeper Gomes is now at the hawthorns, hoping to reignite his career, but will have to challenge both Ben Foster and new signing Craig Gordon for the spot. Africans Papa Bouba-Diop and John Mensah both have premier league experience and James is hoping that they will aid the clubs youngsters. Wes Hoolalahn and Rob Hulse where signed to add some back up, and add some home grown talent to the squad.

Alfred James has also added some new faces to the back room, getting rid of both his assistant and the director of football, Kevin Keen and Dan Ashworth. While in came Sean Dyche and Eric Cantona to replace them respectively. Also in came three scouts, two from southampton and one from Stoke, and two coaches. Firstly the scouts in Stoke's Walter Windrum, and southampton's Tom Stockwell and Stephen Corns. The two scouts have a high profile in english football. Former Manchester United and Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins and Former Tottenham coach, Joe Jordan.



Pre-season wise, It was a fabulous one for new man, Alfred James, as he and west brom went the whole thing unbeaten. the highlight surely being the win against Fiorentina of Serie A.


V.s. West Brom Reserves
Shane Long 27
Peter Odemwingie 30
Adil Nabi 32
James Morrison

V.s. East Fife
Goalless
Yussef Mulumbu

V.s. Yeovil
Curtis Haynes-Brown 46
Shane Long 58
Jonas Olsson 89
Graeme Dorrans

V.s. Crawley
Hope Akpan 14
Peter Odemwingie 43
Peter Odemwingie 85
Markus Rosenberg 90+1
Peter Odemwingie

V.s. Saint Etienne
Peter Odemwingie 37
Fabien Lemoine 78
Peter Odemwingie 83
Jonas Olsson 90
Peter Odemwingie

V.s. Fiorentina
Haris Seferovic 6
James Morrison 8
Shane Long 19
Mounir El Hamdaoui 31
Mattia Cassani 46
James Morrison 70
Wellington Nem 85
James Morrison

V.s.Zaragoza
Carlos Aranda 11
Shane Long 13
Claudio Yacob 22
Peter Odemwingie 47
Alvaro 74

Despite an impressive start and the impressive looking signings, the club are only predicted to finish in 14th. In our view though, we think that the lack of experience of James, will mean even that will be a challenge.

"I stopped listening after that rubbish. Ok so I haven't got that much experience, but I thnk the club can deal with that and head on to the top of the league. This show was up just over a month ago. And I tell you, they will remember the name Alfred James for years to come."

Nice, looking forward to seeing this develop

Good story, ill be sure to check the further updates

2013-04-14 14:08#92470 LJO200 : Nice, looking forward to seeing this develop

So am I. This is going to be exciting to watch unfold.

2013-04-14 14:09#92473 bmanlfc : Good story, ill be sure to check the further updates

Thanks bmanlfc

Brilliant signings, good luck with the upcoming season!

2013-04-14 14:37#92483 Glenn T : Brilliant signings, good luck with the upcoming season!

Thanks Glenn. Good luck with Villa or dortmund

2013-04-14 22:40#92485 TheMS99 :

2013-04-14 14:37#92483 Glenn T : Brilliant signings, good luck with the upcoming season!

Thanks Glenn. Good luck with Villa or dortmund

Story will be postponed as laptop fan is broken

Doing a 2012 sotry on this site to fill the time while I don't have my laptop and can't do this story.

Damn, was liking this story - it had a lot of potential. Will you be carrying on with this story once your laptop is broken?

2013-04-20 13:03#93445 Devil. : Damn, was liking this story - it had a lot of potential. Will you be carrying on with this story once your laptop is broken?

I think you mean fixed, and now that I have my laptop back, expect a few upadates, but not many as currently in exam period.

Also, I have a brilliant Idea for a new story for a manager just like the James Corden story by OnthewallNCFC, someone from "showbiz" is becoming a manager, but who? well stayed tuned.