The 98/99 season is reaching an unpredictable finish, not only is Division 2 as tight as can be for a playoff place but there are three teams in the hunt for Premier League glory. Onwards!

I ended the last update bemoaning that Dundee Utd were taking all my players. Both deals went through and although I am better off financially, we’re now lacking a key midfielder and striker. We somehow do enough to get ourselves into this position with one game to go:

Seemingly Division 2 look at goals scored more than actual goal difference, which might help. But there’s still 7 teams scrapping for those final 3 spots. I’m away to Brentford who need to win to stay up

Happy days! It’s Burnley in the playoffs, who’ve beaten me twice in the leauge and over two legs in the Windscreen shield Area Final – they actually went on to win it. So Chris Waddle certainly has the beating of me. I’m beginning to think I might be better off not going up, we’re nowhere near ready for Division 1.

We lose the first leg 2-0 at Turf Moor and we can’t overhaul it in the second leg, in spite of a decent showing.

Carlisle beat Burnley in the final which means I’ll have to go up against Waddle again next season.

I’m disappointed not to go up but hopefully we can come back stronger next season and get one of the automatic spots. This is the squad that ends the season:

Thankfully Turnbull, Quinn & Sheedy all retire and I can begin the process of making the changes required to get us up.

League Cup

Man Utd take the first trophy of the season with a comfortable win against Jack Charlton’s Everton.

FA Cup

Man Utd will also fancy their chances of another trophy after booking their place in the final. They’ll face Boro, who get revenge for their 1997 Cup final defeat.

Uh-oh…

Bryan Robson gets one over his old club with a 1-0 win. His brother is in my midfield…

Champions League

It doesn’t get any better for Fergie here either

Away goals the king as Ajax and Barca will meet in the final.

A very one sided final – Van der Sar is suspended and Fred Grim isn’t up to it, although he makes about a dozen saves anyway.

Barcelona also win La Liga so it’s a good day to be them. AC Milan take Serie A glory.

Premier League

So, this is tight:

Chelsea must be favourites to take the title, as you can see from the remaining games they have arguably the easiest of the three.

It’s all looking rosey for Chelsea as Chris Armstrong (yes, of Spurs fame) slots in a first half penalty. However…

Dwight Yorke pops up 2 minutes from time to deny Vialli and Chelsea a first Premier League Title. The door swings open for Liverpool, or maybe even Man Utd

Unbelievable. Blackburn beat Liverpool and Man Utd steal the title with a win at Sheff Weds. Goal difference, as close as it can get.

Meanwhile at the bottom, it is a miserable season for Newcastle

West Ham & Bolton also take the dive down a division. Surely Dalglish won’t survive this?

All that’s left is the awards. I’m sure few would argue with Keith Branagan being player of the year

Matthew Hirst is immediately snapped up by Chelsea.

So an ultimately disappointing season for Darlington but maybe it’s for the best in the long run. Either way, we’ve got to go for it next season. Hopefully, we’ll see you there for the 99/00 season