News in Brief- Seven Questions

Welcome to the Hot seat Luke. Let's get down to the business at hand

I think news in brief is correct in saying you started your career managing and playing for Evolution. Tell us a little about the team and your former team mates.

Well, you are very correct my playing and managerial career did begin at the very dawn of the chairman's reign as the president of 5 star promotions. The Club Evolution FC was founded by me and good friend Joe Barr and we managed to build a side that was both competitive and entertaining to watch. The team was largely made up of close school friends, which meant we were a close nit unit always willing to fight for and work for each together.

Evolution FC enjoyed a successful first season where we came very close to winning the Division One championship only to be denied by an impressive Holbrook's Heat line-up spearheaded by Mark Quinn. Other notable achievements for the side were 3 cup semi final appearances where we denied glory by top side like City Rejects and the Coventry Legion.

Over the course of the clubs history we enjoyed strong rivalries with the likes of Holbrook's Heat and Mowdown FC (a former club of mine) that were at that time led by star striker Nick Frost.

A little about the players.... The lined up was as follows:

   Evolution FC
   GK - Luke Maslin - "living legend"
   DF - Paul Bowell - A solid pro
   DF - Chris Evans - A committed youngster/blended well with Bowell
   DF - Hackett - His enthusiasm was infectious
   MF - Barr - The creativity in the side
   FWD - Bell - The wild card!
   FWD - Smith - The goal machine

In the end the club went into administration and disbanded a little like
Leeds Utd we probably grew too quickly and as a result of injuries,
(Kieran Northall - Knee, Charles Hackett - General fitness), retirements
Paul Bowell - too old, and factors outside of football, Dave Bell -
Alcohol/Women/Gambling/Laziness and Andy Smith too arrogant.
There is however rumours that one day Evolution FC will return to
5star Promotions to right the wrongs and win the league title they always promised.

You currently play for FC Heat and have had an up and down season. How do you see season 05 finishing for FC Heat?

Yes, I agree things have indeed been much hit and miss this season. There are a number of factors, which have contributed to FC Heat not yet sitting on top of the mountain, however things aren't over yet!

The first two factors were quite key and they were the pre-seasons
acquisitions of me and the breakdown in transfer negotiations between   FC Heat and Joe Barr. Due to the nature of my contract at the beginning of the season I was operating as a "free agent" which meant I was on a pay as you play deal leading to me missing some of the opening games for FC Heat, which many ended in defeat. This led to FC Heat losing ground on the early pace setters at the beginning of the season, which has meant we have been playing catch-up.

With the failure to sign Joe Barr as the spearhead of the FC Heat attack I had to look into the possibility of signing a new striker at short notice. This led to the appointment of me as director of football for FC Heat and I was then able to sign Danny Thompson on a season long loan deal from the Coventry Legion. The impact of his signing helped galvanize the rest of the team, which lead to an amazing run of results, which included wins over KV Tooters, Ten Left Feet, Kerseley Kobras, City Seagulls, GSH. My prediction for the team this season is 3rd place and an opportunity in the play off, and
the possibility of cup final glory.

Your good friend Joe Barr who is currently playing for City Seagulls has
been touted as a possible pre-season signing for Heat. How would Joe fit in
and do you ever envisage Mr. Barr in an FC Heat shirt?

Joe Barr is and has always been an exceptional talent and any team would be lucky to have him. The main problem is the FC Heat squad is very strong,
however with the long-term suspension of Jase it is clear a window may have opened. Joe has immense loyalty to the City Seagulls however I am aware he is growing tired of the lack of vision by the management team there.

The bottom line is Joe is a winner and wants to win trophies and this will
not happen with a mid-table outfit like the City Seagulls. With Barr being
out of contract at the end the season I'm FC Heat won't be the only team that will come a knocking on his door. The Seagulls should watch out as Barr
doesn't appear to be the only unsettled Seagulls player?!? City Seagulls a
club in crisis.

Talking of the Seagulls you had a brief spell at the helm of but it ended
prematurely after only a few weeks in charge. There is a lot of heat between
certain members of City Seagulls and yourself and News in Brief would like to know your side of the tale!!

I agree my time in charge was short lived and the reasons for this were
simple. I wanted the Seagulls to play attractive free flowing football, play
with passion, flair, charisma, personality and once I realized that Nick &
Jason wanted something different for the club we needed to Part Company.
During my short time at the helm I helped keep the Seagulls from finishing
bottom of the league and given the run of form they were on when I took over this was a great achievement.

The initial plans for the Seagulls were to have a long-term relationship but
obviously this did not happen. I had a clear vision for the Seagulls and that
was to make them "the best" the problem was members of the board were not willing to invest in new talent and were happy build a side based on the
resources already on hand. The sorry Seagulls now seem to be regretting not taking my advice because there season now seems to be going down the toilet. Now when I turn out to watch the Seagulls its like torture watching good young players like Joe and cliff being poorly used...

An Italian friend of mine summarizes my thoughts on watching the Seagulls
outfit through the power of song:

   "They tried to make me watch the City Seagulls I was like no, no,
   no............"
   "They tried to make me watch the City Seagulls I was like no, no,
   no............"
   Jason and Nick like to hang around in gay or strip bars....
   And I give the Seagulls team zero stars.....
   "They tried to make me watch the City Seagulls I was like no, no,
   no............"
   "They tried to make me watch the City Seagulls I was like no, no,
   no............"

You were recently made part of the exclusive 'cabinet' and partied the
night away the President and C.E.O of 5Star Promotions and enjoyed the fruits of the 'divas'. How has your association with the owners affected your relationship with fellow players?

My relationship with other players has changed a lot. When you become part of the most elite group in the whole of sports entertainment you have to make sacrifices. For me now a friend of the cabinet is a friend of mine and it
works both ways. The cabinet now has total control of the 5star empire (shown below are details of the group) the bottom line is I did what I had to do to get to the top.

Cabinet (the team)

President of 5star Promotions: Phil
CEO of 5star Promotions:              Mark
Hired Guns:                                     MVP
Hired Guns:                                      Maslin1
Cabinet Enforcer:                           Danny Thompson

Cabinet Entertainment (diva):     Faye

Purpose of the cabinet:

To ensure 5star sports is the premier organization in sports entertainment
Carry out work issued by the chairman
To make Nick Frost's life a "living hell"

Friends of the cabinet:

Mark Quinn
Employees of 5star Promotions
The entire FC Heat Team

Enemies of the cabinet:

Nick Frost

If you could pick a 1st Division player of the year who would it be and why?

I think this season has been one of the most exciting, innovative and
entertaining in the history of 5star Promotions. The President has introduced
new gimmicks, cup competitions, awards evening, the website and of course the now legendary guest book. I think there are several contenders for the player of the season award.

The first being Joe Barr of the City Seagulls, despite being heavily linked with a move to FC Heat pre-season he has turned in quality performance after quality performance and has carried the Seagulls to a respectable campaign.
I would like to give shout out's to Luke from the Kobras who's had a very good season, Danny Thompson clearly for FC Heat his goals alone deserve a mention, Dave Jones who has helped turn 300 Spartans' season around and Gav for KV Tooters who's just a class act.

In my opinion though the award should go to Mark Quinn. Once again he is
proving to be a player who will not fade into the background, a great player
who has consistently proved this since the inception of 5star promotions. He
has played a large part of the season in defence which shows his ability to
adapt but he has still weighed in with important goals. A great pro.

Finally you will lead the first ever International 1st Division squad
into battle soon. Some say your pick is down to your role in the cabinet and
that your performances don't warrant such a call up let alone is captain of
the side. How do you respond to such allegations?

The stats speak for themselves. I was named "player of the month" last month and am rightly ranking number one in the goal keeping charts. I have made guest appearances for the likes of Never Enough, Coventry Legion and Lloyds Bar over to past few weeks. I think that speaks volumes of my credentials. Whether it be shot stopping, distribution, ability to organize a defence I believe I am number one. FC Heat has one of the best defences in league along with being one of the leading scores, which shows the team performs in all departments. Since I took over as director of football at FC Heat in September we went on one of best unbeaten streaks in sports entertainment, Beating KV Tooters, City Seagulls, Kerseley Kobras, Ten Left Feet, GSH to name but a few.

I have nothing to prove I have been a top keeper at 5star promotions for
years and as a result of my good service I was invited to join the exclusive
cabinet. I will acknowledge the hate mob has a right to an opinion and I
think like the cabinet they to have the right to a name for there faction. I
suggest "the lemons" because they are so bitter. Ha, ha

the president has invited me to represent him for the international side and
as captain fantastic I will do just that... I would like to issue this
statement to the International Friday team....

"Bring everyone you have, hell bring everybody you got, you gotta ask
yourself the questions are you prepared to sweat? Are you prepared to bleed? Cause we're gunna beat those Friday night suckers its guaran dam t'd...!"

End of the day I've paid my dues and I smell like smoke because I've been
through fire. There's a reason why I am called Maslin1 and that's because I
am number one.

"To be the man you've gotta beat the man" and right now I am the man. The President has hired me to do a job and it's a job I will enjoy doing. Our
Sunday team will win and win well and that's the bottom line because Maslin
just said so….. Hey Just call me Mr. FedEx.... because I always deliver.

Thank you Luke it has been a pleasure. We are sure The President will be very happy with your interview