Saturday 7th July
Standing under the Eiffel Tower you never know what might happen, you might be brave enough to go up it, you might have a stroll around it but never would you imagine that you would become a football manager under it! It happened to me on this day! There I was minding my own business when some parisians came over to me and asked if I was actually Holden Ray. They spoke alright english and could understand what I was saying. I replied to them that last time I looked at my passport that was what it said. They didnt understand and stared at me with blank faces. I gave it to them bluntly and said yes. (I always knew the french had no sense of humour!) I struck up conversation and wasnt even going to bother trying to crack any more jokes! I told them how I was just an office worker now in central London. I had retired from football after playing at an all right level. Never making it to the big time but played for a few clubs in and around europe. Went for the interview and just thought I would take it as a bit of a laugh not actually thinking it properly through. It went well and was told they had fired there last manager a few months ago and had been on the lookout for one since. No one had really come forward and wanted it though. It wasn't like they were Paris St. Germain. They were just lowly Paris FC also known as PFC. They were in the french National League, which was the 3rd lowest league in France.
Sunday 8th July
As I awoke that morning in my cosy hotel room I switched on my laptop and checked my emails, business, work, spam, managing contract ofer, more spam, more business! OH MY GOD, i took one look back and re read the managing contract offer.. Much to my surprise they had actually accepted my inquiry and had sent me a contract through. (The french may have no sense of humour but they certainly are keen!) It told me I was being offered 450 quid a week until June 2009. They would give me a transfer budget of 75k to get them to a respectable place in the league by the end of my second season. I thought what the heck may aswell give it a go and told them. They were pleased to here of my agreement and they send me a suqad list straight away. It was better paid than my london office job anyway and looked a lot more fun and practical. Although probably more stressful aswell! But its france, its paris, its a 3rd Divsion french team! Oh god! I took a look at the squad, it consisted of 11 frenchies and the rest Africans. Right bunch of jokers I thought to myself. Apparently my best player was called Sarr. I thought it was quite an unfortunate name, if you had an s he would be called sarrs. I mulled over what I had got myself into and where my 75k would take me!
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