Blink and you missed him.
Posted: Sat Feb 29, 2020 8:33 pm
After Nigel Laverick was tempted to leave Cairo for bigger things in Wichita, the Archers were in need of a GM to guide them to the end of the season. Whilst Laverick had gone on to long-term plans on trying to turn the Aviators franchise around, Cairo needed a stop gap until they could find applicants for a more permanent role.
Luck would have it Neil Thomas was in the crowd at the Archers last game under Nigel Laverick s tenure against Baghdad a 5-1 win at home against the Kings, scouting for an unknown team Mr Thomas was asked by the ownership if he would like to take the reigns of the team he declined stating, he had already taken a long-term job but if his future owners gave their stamp of approval he would sign a short term contract with Cairo.
After a win against the Manama Pearls on the last day of the season he faced a press conference.
"Do you feel like staying in Cairo after all your just coming of a 6-1 record with them".
Look put an asterisk next to my record with Cairo, I came into this situation cold, I'd not met the players, no training or anything.
I got shown to Nigel Lavericks office and found an old line up card, I put it in my back pocket walked out to the ump and handed it over. I'll be honest I wasn't sure if the players on the card were still here but luck would have it they were, we beat Baghdad so I just rinsed and repeated against Istanbul and Manama, I didn't reinvent the wheel.
"You nearly pulled off a miracle and reached the playoffs, could you have actually won it all with Cairo?".
(Laughter fills the room)
Ladies and gentlemen you may laugh but if we had taken Manama's place who knows, we had a 13-17 record against Istanbul so it wouldn't have needed a miracle to beat them. Then we go into the championship game against Bucharest, or do we? You see Jerusalem have a decent record of 16-14 against Bucharest, so bit of luck we play the Jerusalem Hebrew Hammers for the championship, the same Hammers who Cairo have an 11-7 record against this season, so not beyond the realms of the impossible however we aren't in the play offs but who knows.
"Did you give the players any different orders to what Nigel Laverick would have given them?"
I'm pretty much sure he would have told them to win, so no, no special orders. I did however tell them don't try to impress me as I'd not be here next season but to show Nigel Laverick that he taught them how to win and they hadn't forgotten.
"Which team will you be at next season?"
Sorry but I can't answer that until the official announcement.
Well ladies and gentlemen of the press I will bid you farewell as I have my goodbyes to say to the players and personnel of the Cairo Chariot Archers BC, before I head of to pastures new.
Luck would have it Neil Thomas was in the crowd at the Archers last game under Nigel Laverick s tenure against Baghdad a 5-1 win at home against the Kings, scouting for an unknown team Mr Thomas was asked by the ownership if he would like to take the reigns of the team he declined stating, he had already taken a long-term job but if his future owners gave their stamp of approval he would sign a short term contract with Cairo.
After a win against the Manama Pearls on the last day of the season he faced a press conference.
"Do you feel like staying in Cairo after all your just coming of a 6-1 record with them".
Look put an asterisk next to my record with Cairo, I came into this situation cold, I'd not met the players, no training or anything.
I got shown to Nigel Lavericks office and found an old line up card, I put it in my back pocket walked out to the ump and handed it over. I'll be honest I wasn't sure if the players on the card were still here but luck would have it they were, we beat Baghdad so I just rinsed and repeated against Istanbul and Manama, I didn't reinvent the wheel.
"You nearly pulled off a miracle and reached the playoffs, could you have actually won it all with Cairo?".
(Laughter fills the room)
Ladies and gentlemen you may laugh but if we had taken Manama's place who knows, we had a 13-17 record against Istanbul so it wouldn't have needed a miracle to beat them. Then we go into the championship game against Bucharest, or do we? You see Jerusalem have a decent record of 16-14 against Bucharest, so bit of luck we play the Jerusalem Hebrew Hammers for the championship, the same Hammers who Cairo have an 11-7 record against this season, so not beyond the realms of the impossible however we aren't in the play offs but who knows.
"Did you give the players any different orders to what Nigel Laverick would have given them?"
I'm pretty much sure he would have told them to win, so no, no special orders. I did however tell them don't try to impress me as I'd not be here next season but to show Nigel Laverick that he taught them how to win and they hadn't forgotten.
"Which team will you be at next season?"
Sorry but I can't answer that until the official announcement.
Well ladies and gentlemen of the press I will bid you farewell as I have my goodbyes to say to the players and personnel of the Cairo Chariot Archers BC, before I head of to pastures new.