Roy of the Rovers Return to Glory?Part 4

* * *As the Melchester travelling support booed ferociously at their players, a chant of Mostin out! began and rose in volume as if all of the three thousand fans sang as one. Roy Race was watching at home, he turned off as the pitch-side cameraman approached the Rovers interim manager, pushing the lens towards his face. The Rovers faithful only voiced such dissent when things were truly out of hand, it was not in their nature to turn on their own. Racey turned over, he had no desire to watch Mozzie squirm in front of the obvious and never probing questions of the Big Match reporter. He was out of his depth, there is no hiding place in football management, if you had the skills it was hard enough, but for someone with the limited experience of Mostin it could be pure hell.Roy was enjoying the top of the table Spanish league match between Atletico Zarosa and Real Granpala, when his mobile phone buzzed on the coffee table, Hello! it was Rocky calling from the States, Dad, are you watching? Mostins resigned, or been sacked or whatever. Hes just said that he wont be in charge against Melboro next week!With Rovers two points off safety the derby against Melboro would be the most important (from a Rovers perspective) match between the bitter rivals since 1988/89, when Rovers beat Boro in the final game of the season to stay up. Rocky continued, How can we go into the derby without a manager? Roth and those Basranians have lost the plot! Well see son. Ive got an important phone call to make. Ill ring you back in an hour or so.Roy, took a deep breath before pressing the button, David, Racey here! I think you know why Ive called. The most decorated manager in English football, had already been humiliated by the current Rovers board, but did not want to give up on his club. But he also did not want to sound like he was begging for a chance. However, Thats funny Roy, old chap! Ive just come from an emergency meeting with Mahmud. He told me to call you!You mean its going to happen? Roy said excitedly. Yep! Racey, BCIF and myself would like you to takeover. Can you get yourself down to Mel Park this evening? Well be back from Danefield in a couple of hours. Lets get this sorted tonight and you can get yourself ready tomorrow. How does that sound? Roy could hardly contain himself, David, I will be there. Ill keep schtum until told otherwise. Believe me, we can do this, we can stop the rot, starting with Melboro on Sunday!At just before 7pm that evening Roy Race signed a contract to become manager of Melchester Rovers again. It was only a short-term agreement, until the end of the season. There was only one aim, to save Rovers from relegation. BCIF were not interested in how Roy planned to achieve that goal, Mahmud rudely cutting him off as he began to explain the way forward. But for now Roy did not care, he was back in his job, at his club, with his coaching team.Geoff Giles, would be reassigned from his role as chief-scout to assistant manager, Mervyn Wallace would come out of retirement to become first-team coach, the dream team was back. The only problem Roy now foresaw was trying to convince firstly Geoff and Mervyn and then the Rovers supporters of his new tactics. Before Christmas, Roy had identified the squads strengths, the players and their natural abilities were, in his educated eyes, perfectly suited to a 4-4-2, playing quick, direct football. Without Fabrice NDiaye, 4-3-3 would never work.Roy Race was back as Melchester Rovers manager and they were going to play long-ball football.

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