84 Games into his Managerial stint at Valencia and Ash has already delivered a surprise promotion to Division 1. There was a lot of good teams in Division 2 last season, but good managers achieve good things and Ash certainly falls in that category. In his first season at Valencia the club just missed out on the play-offs, which gave them a sprinboard to try and surpas that in season 17.

Ash is an active manager who has churned players consistently to build a promotion winning team. Never affraid to part with a young talent or a player with a decent rating, Ash has mastered making the right decisions at the right time, which has rewarded him with interest and automatic promotion to Division 1.

Although his point to game ratio only stands at 1.67, Ash certainly has the nous and ability to establish Valencia as a Division 1 side for many seasons to come.

With league updates in full swing, they have certainly been kind to Valencia with a number of players getting updates which will impact Valencia’s first team.

Close season signing Estupinan (plus 2), Pedraza (plus 1) give the current crop a welcome boost, whilst the capture of veteran centre back Pique, Belgium playmaker Trossard and Austrian Sabitzer, gives Valencia a stronger looking side for season 18, than the one which finished season 17.

Ash has also during his time at Valencia addressed his youth set up and can sit proudly knowing he 25 players currently in his youth team, with Gourna-Douath and Calagari ones to watch.

The first team is not overly littered with veteran players and there is certainly a number of players Ash may look to trade to continue his build.

Valencia are a great example of where doing lots of internal transfers can pay off if you are doing your homework. During Valencia’ promotion campaign, Ash made the decision to part with top scorer Suarez, many managers on a promotion push would never of entertained that idea. However Ash falls inti that pool of managers of “Looking at the bigger picture”

Looking at season 18 and Valencia’s prospects, you wouldnt bet against Valencia staying up, which means other more established teams need to be looking over the shoulder that its not them falling through the trap door this time around.

Ash has shown he can build a winning team, his next step is to show he can keep them up. If he achieves that, then he certainly puts himself in the shop window of taking one of the bigger established clubs with a wealth of talent