1 year ago, the Master League lost one of it's brightest young managers, Johny Jeffery. Without reason the self proclaimed "Chosen One" left the master league and the x11 community leaving his own established league behind.
Confused and betrayed his former master league team was abandoned and the players he once called brothers were left without clubs or any job, some made it back into the big time finding moves soon after but many haven't been heard of since.
Jeffery has been gone and no word from him since his sudden departure, the manager known for his cockiness which based on his record was definitely not a bad thing as it seems to do the job was last seen in the New Zealand wilderness walking alone with just a backpack.
In a shock state of affairs the Dunedin Thunder had apparently sacked there relatively unknown manager and replaced them with Jay Jeffery, many believed it to be just rumours at first until just 2 hours ago when the Thunder chairman announced a deal had been struck to bring Jeffery back to football management.
It was true, just 30 minutes ago Jeffery was seen in Dunedin International Airport having came in off a flight from Queenstown, which is close to Milford Sounds where he was last spotted. Sporting a decently trimmed beard and a rucksack not many believed he would stop to talk, but he did and it all came clear.
Here is what Jay said in full.
"Hi guys, it's a pleasure to be here at the Thunder, but thats not what you want to hear right now and I apologise to all Thunder fans, I will talk about that soon.
So, why did I leave? there are many reasons, I fell into the pit of despair. It is said that everyone falls into this pit once in there life and it is one of the most challenging times of that persons life. Well, for me it was and I needed to get away, I am not going to go into the details of what happened but lets just say it wasn't pretty for 4 months.
I wandered aimlessly through New Zealand trying to do the cliche thing of "finding myself", it doesn't work guys! Don't try it. I was beaten by tribesmen, I got lost and I found friendship solely in the trees who tried to shelter me from the harsh New Zealand winter.
I finally made my way out, finding myself here in Dunedin of all places where I met a girl who helped me escape my very own pit of despair. I have been travelling since, having fun and using the time to regain my love of the game, managing teams from Sunday level.
Now, here I am, in my partners hometown ready to make the Thunder proud. I am not looking for sympathy, I let my former-team down, my chairman, my family and myself but not this time. I will do my very best to make the Thunder the natural force of reckoning they are meant to be.
I have come out of the Abyss and into the Light, Dunedin will come thundering down on all the oppose. Thunder fans, one of your own guided me out of the dark and for this I owe each and every one of you as much as I owe her, I will put my heart and soul into this team.
To every player I let down by leaving the Waikato, this is a message to you. Come to Dunedin, I know each and every one of you and I know you can make it here.
I am going straight to training right now, I will not rest, I will not fall, sorry... WE will not fall.
Thank you for listening, give me a chance Thunder fans, I will make you proud."
This was literally 30 minutes ago, Jay is back but he looks a changed man, gone is the ego, gone is the cockiness and gone is the lack of passion towards the end of his previous reign.
Will he be the one to save Dunedin, they were hours from folding after a season they were expected to win and invested so much to get that product.
What are your thoughts "Thunder Fans"
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