Martin Jol Manager of Fulham

“There was no getting away from it. Bobby was gone and he wasn’t coming back”

Martin Jol rolled over in bed and groaned. His head was killing, he could barely open his eyes and his stomach was doing more flips then Adam Johnson in the opposition penalty box. Transfer deadline day had hit him hard. He rolled out of bed, downed a pint of water and staggered towards the bathroom. He stared at himself in the mirror, he looked a bit of a state.

All of a sudden it hit him hard, the recollection of what happened last night. Surely not, he hadn’t had he….

Sure they’ve had a few problems. There had been several arguments over the last few months but they had always made up after. A well received tactical switch or a well taken finish and all of a sudden they were alright again. They had both tried to get over their problems with each other and their friends were led to believe that things were going ok.

But there was no getting away from it. Bobby was gone and he wasn’t coming back.

The day itself had seemed a complete blur. He work up full of hope but before he knew it the separation was done. His ex, ‘The’ ex, Mark Hughes came back on scene asking after Bobby, promising to treat him ‘the way he deserves’.

Cue frantic efforts to bring in a replacement before the end of the day. In the end up stepped a Russian striker, Pavel Pogrebnyak, inconsistent in Germany but an experienced international. Still to be sure, he was given a six month deal in case things don’t work out. He’d been hurt before after all.

Now where’s that work permit….