Blow by Blow - Division 2 - the lower echelons

Well the lowest of the lowest echelon was dear old Peter Doyle. Ginger Rabbit inexplicably forgot that he could make transfers and thus despite a promising start was bottom of Div 2 by December and that is where he stayed. Doyley's worst ever finish and remember, because Pete does, that he was N&R Champion in 2004/5. In saying that he was a winner this year collecting £25 prize for Penultimate Place. C

When Alex Boswell and I shared a few beers earlier this year here in Bermuda I am sure he told me that he was going straight back to make some transfers. A slight problem was that he went from here to Edinburgh to watch the rugby and thus probably killed the few brain cells that he had left.

Alex never got out of first gear but as the season came to a close he gradually slipped nearer to the bottom and ended up 67th overall. Nothing to be proud off there. D

Chris Minchell's first ever season and he ended it as the worst newcomer. Sorry Chris, but it is true. Nonetheless please don't be despondent, even Doyley once won the N&R title you know? D+

Chris was only 6 points worse than our next new manager Paul Keaveney. From the AIG stables of up and coming London Market insurance talent, Keavo struggled to make his mark despite somehow being 4th in week 2. He even named his team after one of the rules, and now has to raid his piggy bank to buy the whole team the losers curry, normally the job of Chris Waterman. D+

 

Sarah Sheron disappoints me sometimes. She showed so much attitude and promise in those early seasons. There was early season encouragement though just as there was last year, but a complete lack of activity in the transfer market saw her fall head over heels down the Div 2 table to finish 32nd or 64th overall. Sarah's highest place was 9th in week 12. C-

Rutts, what is there to say about Rutts? Never a believer in the Arsene Wenger mould of spending any money in the transfer market. All 12 options still sat there at week 40 and like every single other manager who was the overall worst bottom 10 (except for one) he paid the price for not making any transfers. Still, we will welcome the Fac guru back with open arms next season. C-

 

Oakers was relegated from Div 1 last season and did his very best impression of Wolves by flying through Div 2 to end up 29th. There is no where to get relegated to (yet) but it was disappointing by Al even though he did better his last year's score by over a 100.  

And it all started so well for the Chelsea boy too. 7th in week 5, and even at Christmas still on the periphery of the promotion pack but it was only downhill after that. C  

Mark Sterry however was active in the transfer market. Mark busily moved players in and out but could never put a run together and ended the season where he pretty much started it but did improve on last year's finish. B-  

We welcomed Martin Singleton to the fold this season. Martin is one of longest serving managers stretching back to 1998. Martin spends his life travelling around the UK, occasionally stopping in Preston to see his beloved North End. Martin ended up in 27th or 58th overall and improved as the season grew after a dodgy start. C+

 

Our man in Oz, Henry Williams was controversery relegated on the last day of the season a year ago and he was a pre-season favourite for promotion. He began the season like he was going to run away with the league, and was the first Div 2 leader. Up until week 10 he was still in the mix but as the season progressed he needed some flesh blood and with the likes of Odemwingie still in his starting XI his any promotion hopes diminished. C

 

Another relegated manager was Neville White, who won silverware a couple of seasons ago by winning the N&R Cup. No silver this year I am afraid. Like Martin Singleton as the season went on Nev did start to make some inroads up the table with some good transfers but he was a long way from making an immediate return to the big time. C+