A month.
A month of holding his breath. A month of watching his "straight line" path to promotion wobble and bend, threatening to break.
Michael sat in his office, his sanctuary, his war room, and stared at the league table on his TV.
The 24-hour sports news was, for once, not a source of pain or mockery, but a source of grudging, bewildered respect.
"I've got to be honest, Jeff," one of the pundits was saying, his face a mask of confusion, "I don't get it. I really don't. I thought they were done. I thought the 'Barnsley Braves' were a one-hit-wonder that would collapse the second their manager was out. But... look at this."
A graphic filled the screen. The League One table.
1- Sheffield Wednesday
2- Portsmouth
3- Derby County
4- Barnsley FC
"Fourth place!" the pundit continued. "They're still in the playoff spots! Under the command of interim boss Steve, a man no one had ever heard of, the team has managed to fight, tooth and nail, to stay in the hunt."
