The following month was spent in self-indulgent self pity. The horror of day time TV was only broken up by a brief walk around the block. I couldn't even think of football let alone read or watch anything about it.

This went on for longer than it should have and although patient at first my wife began mentioning the job pages more and more. Eventually it was her brother who came to my rescue. Mark ran a very lucrative business selling hot tubs to the rich and famous of Europe. Now I'd never done anything like this before but the bills were mounting up and saying no was not really an option open to me anymore.

Within 2 weeks I was in Spain for a 3 day Hot Tub sales convention. I must admit I wasn't very good at selling but I did (with a little help and a lot of persistence) sell 2. One to someone representing a well known actor living in Barcelona and another to Villareal footballer Matias Fernandez....I wanted to say to him that I'd been in football too but I don't think our 2 worlds were exactly alike....my brother in law mentioned it as the deal was closed and Mr Fernandez smiles politely...a hot tub saleaman now....football was then....

Another 4 months went by and I sold more hot tubs. I still wasn't good but I was making enough to pay the council tax. But somehow it wasn't making me happy...I was getting restless. I began to watch Sky Sports News for 10 seconds at a time...then it became a minute...before long I was getting swept up in the pre-season gossip frenzy...it felt like waking up...one evening my wife walked into the lounge as I was shouting at John Gregory's comments...she stood watching for a while...suddenly aware she was there I turned to look at her...she smiled to herself for a second and walked back into the kitchen.