This is Poles apart from anything I've ever experienced

Carver's on brink of miracle to keep Gdansk from drop

- BY SCOTT MCDERMOTT

HE has helped take Scotland to two Euro finals.

And he has managed two of the biggest teams in England in Newcastle and Leeds United.

But if John Carver somehow keeps Lechia Gdansk in the Polish top flight this season, it might just be the single greatest achievement of his coaching career so far.

The 60-year-old agreed to take charge of the cash-strapped club in November when they looked doomed to the drop.

Lechia were hit with a transfer embargo and players were uncertain about their futures due to unpaid wages.

On top of that, last month the Polish FA refused them a licence to play in the Ekstraklasa next term due to their financial crisis.

The club are still waiting on the outcome of their appeal.

But amidst the chaos in Gdansk, Carver has moulded a young squad and fostered a team spirit.

Somehow they've clawed their way up the table with three games of the season left.

During that time, the Scotland assistant boss has masterminded victories over Lech Poznan, Slask Wroclaw and Jagiellonia.

And last weekend they beat top-six outfit Cracovia away from home to move five points clear of the danger zone.

Carver admits he has never faced a challenge like the one he has encountered in Poland.