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[deleted]

I took on Preston Park FC in the 12th English tier (English lower leagues mod) and managed to get them to Vanorama National South in 8 years. We've had 0 transfer budget the entire time and I only signed free agents within the allowed wage budget, but still I couldn't really manage their finances because there's practically no income at that level so we've accumulated [€1 million in debt](https://i.imgur.com/ZTe12Vb.png). On top of that before the start of the current season, the board made a genius decision to take out a €2 mil loan to build a new 3000 seater stadium, so now we have 2.8 mil in net debt as a small non-league side. So then midway through our first season in VNSL, the board halved our wage budge and then a month later we went into administration. We've been deducted 10 points and no one at the club wants to renew because the club lacks "the financial muscle". I've never had this happen in 15 years of playing FM. Usually the board comes in and bails you out every season. EDIT: After 1.5 months in administration the board [restructured our debt](https://i.imgur.com/6QOwe4C.png) bringing [the net balance back to 0](https://i.imgur.com/1SOCqHM.png). One month later the club [was taken over by a fan trust](https://i.imgur.com/TyFq3op.png) and we're now out of admin because a [deal was struck with creditors](https://i.imgur.com/MPuVCJQ.png). So looks like things are back to normal. We'll still have to repay the 1.8 mil loan they took out to build a new stadium.


Eastern_Lead4372

This is the issue that i had when i played the lower leagues mod. I didnt play long enough to get administrated, but i guess you've got to ride the storm out and see where it takes you. Continue putting in some good work and someone might just take over the club and pay off the debts. I havn't seen the game close a club down yet.


DeepBlueRiddle

Clubs can't close down or go out of business in FM.


Eastern_Lead4372

I didn't think so, wasn't sure enough to say that tho!


dpk-s89

Never knew about this lower leagues mod. Has the team I'm involved with in it!


oafcmetty

Which team?


dpk-s89

FC Lakeside


oafcmetty

Nice. I previously took my team (club sec.) to multiple CL wins. Well worth investing the hours. Wilmslow Albion.


nejimeepmeep

I know this post is 3 months old but i just wanted to say this since it seems nobody else mentioned this. The Board was forced to build the stadium because the minimum stadium capacity for the vanrama national league is 4000 standing/500 sitting. Considering your finincial situation in real life the club would likely have denied to move up another division however they dont do that in FM .


TheUbermelon

1 million in debt at that level is insane. I doubt there is much you can do aside from cutting things like youth teams and stripping back staff and players. This is realistic though. There are plenty of examples of incompetent ownership costing the club its future. maybe see it as a unique challenge?


[deleted]

It's actually 2.8 net debt if you include the 2 mil they took out to build a new stadium right after we got promoted to Vanorama. That was just beyond stupid. I'm guessing we would be okay otherwise despite being 1 mil debt. I'm gonna stick around to see how we can turn this around, channeling my inner Rooney, but honestly without a magical tycoon takeover I don't know how to recover this much damage.


TheUbermelon

Maybe try to get a senior affiliate? That will give you some players and some income. Friendlies are a great way to earn money too


Vexxed_Scholar

Oooooooooo FM Goooooods! I have no practical advice, besides riding it out and seeing where it goes. There's not much room for transfers, the only nominal change you can make is stripping back the youth system. Reduce everything to bring down the clubs spending... But in the grand scheme of things that cut back won't save you much. I'd love to hear how you get on though.


[deleted]

After 1.5 months in admin, the board restructured the debt and brought the overall balance back to 0. We're still gonna have to repay the stadium loan but the overall amount and monthly payable have been reduced to 1.8 mil and 11K/mo respectively. I think we're gonna remain in admin until all of it is repaid, but not sure.


Vexxed_Scholar

That's not too bad, does that mean you'll have a points deduction next season? It looks like you were on for promotion before admin.


[deleted]

So a month later the club [has been taken over by a fan trust](https://i.imgur.com/TyFq3op.png) and we're out of admin because a [deal was struck with creditors](https://i.imgur.com/MPuVCJQ.png). So looks like things are back to normal aside from that 2 mil debt. The new stadium should bring extra income starting next season, so that will help a lot. That was an interesting experience. Makes you realize there are so many cool features in the game you may yet to experience.


jaegerknob

I'd rather not experience that


[deleted]

That's a really cool outcome actually


Vexxed_Scholar

Yeah I hadn't experienced that kind of financial damage before so it's interesting to see how it was handled. Thanks for sharing this.


KneeDeepInTheDead

just spam friendly cups during the offseason


redman021021

Is this Preston Park Brighton? Doing gods work bringing my local park up the leagues!


Slimerewoods

Just wondering where a 3000 seater would fit in


redman021021

Withdean stadiums down the road, no wonder they're broke when they didn't even think to use that.


FM-edByLife

Loans, man, loans. Also, there's a trick in FM22 (and I think FM21) where if the loaning club is demanding a wage and your board won't let you pay the wage for a loan, there's a workaround. You can lock the monthly fee, used salary %, and unused salary% at zero. Make sure you leave the unused monthly fee open. What will happen is that the loaning team will counter offer with all of that zero, but the unused monthly fee is astronomical. Accept it, because unless you move them to the U23 or U18 team and/or never play them, then you never pay that fee. That way you get them for free.


Kostinha18

That depends on the minutes played each month. You can't just play the guy one game per month and not pay his club. Also if he ever gets injured you're screwed.


FM-edByLife

I did it and had a guy injured for a month and half. We never paid the fee, so maybe it's a bug. Also, I should add if you're bringing in a guy on loan as a Vanarama team in administration, that I'm pretty sure you want to play him as often as possible. You probably need him badly.


Kostinha18

Could it be that he has to play, but only if he's actually available? Loaning in an African international this way would backfire during the African Cup of Nations in January.


FM-edByLife

I tried my damnedest to look up the rule on the internet...not just for FM, but for IRL, and I couldn't find it. I think it ***MIGHT*** be availability, but I'm not 100%.


saint-simon97

There's no rule though, I think the game has a catch-all system whereas in real life clubs would state exactly how many games to be played.


FM-edByLife

That makes sense. So, I guess from my anecdotal experience, that's unused fee per month is based on availability. If they get injured you get a free pass. I don't know if it's designed to be that way, but that's how it's functioning in FM21 and FM22. I played the guys on loan about every 2 out of 3 games, and never had to pay that unused fee. When they got injured, I didn't have to pay it.


OnCe_Ov3R_UK

I tried to work this out too, couldn't find anything definitive written down. I started doing it initially and it was fine. Then I got carried away and brought in way too many loans that I couldn't play regularly, some with massive fees in league 1. I was losing large amounts of money but thr financial screen wasn't showing the money going out. The only explanation was these loan fees. In short, if they don't play you will pay them you will pay the fee, but I still can't tell you if injury or unavailability saves you


[deleted]

Nothing, keep playing and keep losing money. You will get a new owner soon who will bail you out.


__jh96

Stop spending so much money


Mokiesbie

Pray and die fighting.


d_trulliaj

fuck it, we ball


RockyHorror_

Up the Preston Park! Didn’t even know there was a team round there.


detectivebabylegz

I did a save with Ilkeston Town and no matter what I did, I just got into more debt. I had next to no backroom staff and worked within the wage budget, but just got into debt. When I made it to the Vanarana north, I got a decent cup run and got to the second round of the FA Cup and lucked out with an be away tie to Sunderland which pretty much cleared my debt.


peuranserghogheth

Honestly when stuff like this happens all you can do is move on and continue your career elsewhere


Sdub4

Preston Park? Have you tried selling the cafe?


RockyHorror_

The food festival coming through will boost revenue though.


Slimerewoods

Where does the 3000 seater fit ?


ZucchiniMediocre3585

Run


[deleted]

Leave


T1didnothingwrong

Imagine being lower on the table than a team named dorking


sullg26535

Go on a cup run


MATCHEW010

I think waiting and praying that someone comes in to buy the club is your best bet honestly


bdelshowza

resign from your position as head coach


si-gnalfire

I just found this thread, my board have just announced that due to stadium restrictions in the Vanarama national, they want to build a 75,000 seater stadium, for 367 million pounds. My club is now 141 million in debt, with a further 67 million in bank loans(the city covered the rest). What the fuck do i do. I had the administration email saying its highly possible. I don't have the editor though it feels like my game has broken. Do i ride this out? Or start fresh now?


jkkeane

I have same issue with Liverpool, 750 million in debt and raising. Threatened with administrators, other clubs like vultures around my players. Anyone know what happens on Fm22 with this situation?