Playing as the world's biggest clubs in Football Manager is perhaps the most entertaining aspect of the game, allowing you to spend millions of pounds on superstars and build the best team the sport has ever seen.
Tactics Guide For Lower League Teams In Football Manager 2015
It's not the most challenging way to play, however--far from it. There are many mid-level clubs that are difficult to succeed with as you try to pry the league title and European places away from the domestic giants, but managing a lower league side is even more stimulating.
Gaining promotions from the bottom tiers of England, Spain, or another top league can be frustrating, complicated, and very rewarding--we're here to help you out. We've already gone through some tactics tips that will help you succeed on the field, but just as important is your ability to manage the team off it. Below are suggestions for success in gradually improving your club in player quality and stature.
Free Agents, Free Agents, Free Agents
I can't stress this enough, as the name of this section strongly implies: signing players who are out of contract is a must. Lower division teams have very little, if any transfer money to spend--I'm talking dozens or hundreds of thousands. The game will start with a plethora of players out of contract, meaning you can sign them for no transfer fee and only pay their wages. They will, generally speaking, not be as good as those you would pay for (and will likely be older), but you have no other choice.
Football Manager 2015 Winter Patch Made More Gameplay Changes, Updated Rosters
It will take a lot of digging as the majority of them are pretty poor, but sort by positions you need and scout many at once (hold down shift, click down the list, right click, and assign a scout to a report card). Nobody is going to be a world beater, but if someone can add depth to your team or is a bit of an improvement in one position, take him. You can find free agents in the player search by going to the filter, choosing contract, and selecting expired (or expiring, if a window is coming up). You can loan players as well, though the lower leagues (and sometimes wage demands) are a tough sell. When a name you recognize is available as a free agent, see if you can meet the demands--they're likely much better than your current crop, even if they've grown old.
Your Staff Is Important
Again a consequence of your small budget, you'll only be able to hire a few staff members. Choosing the right ones is important, as they'll likely have multiple roles. A good assistant manager is key--he'll help you run training, give opposition reports, and more. The one you start with is likely not very good--offer him mutual contract termination. Search for a new assistant with decent determination, discipline, and motivation to help his coaching, as well as judging player ability and tactical knowledge to provide sound opposition instruction advice.
Other than your assistant manager, the few scouts you have better be good--it's a fine line when deciding which player to sign. Determination, judging player ability, and judging player potential are key, and if he's foreign to the nation you'll be using him in, adaptability helps too. Filter by 15 ratings in those attributes and drop from there (you'll probably not be able to afford or appeal to the best of the best) until you find someone acceptable. Get them from your home country, and if you can only sign two or three more, try to sign ones who have knowledge of important nations abroad.
A good chief physio is important (physiotherapy, determination, motivating, and discipline), and one or two more phyios should be ok. Your coaching is where the crunch will be--the limit you're allowed to hire will be low, and they'll have to do multiple tasks. Getting an assistant manager who can also perform a coaching role (good attacking, defending, etc) will be hugely helpful, and you will have to take on one or two more coaching roles as well. Getting specialists is great, but you'll likely have to settle for balanced coaches who can do an okay job in multiple roles. There are a lot of compromises.
Don't Be Afraid Of Player Turnover
Much of your team will be on expiring contracts eventually, and if nobody is playing very well or they're not a great value, it's okay to let them go. Nobody will bid for them, and you'll often find yourself letting go of many players at once. That's fine, and shedding some dead weight and clearing wage space is what allows you to slowly improve with the right signings.
A lot of the advice above applies to teams that are just starting out, but there's more to be done for those who have climbed one or two divisions. Eventually your players will be worth enough to actually sell, or you'll at least have a couple hundred thousand to bid for one player. Make it count, and make sure anyone you bring in is increasing your quality. It's okay to sell a good player if the money is right, especially if you earned promotion--players succeed at one level only to sometimes flop at the next one, so cash in while you can.
Demand More From Your Board
The success of this will be hit and miss, but it can't hurt. Your stay in charge won't be long if you don't win, and it's difficult to improve with such a limited budget. Ask your board regularly if they can give you more spending money or upgrade any facilities. All improvements help, and more wage money is huge when trying to sign any free agent or meet the wage demands of another player. They'll often say no, but should be willing to help every now and then if you're in need--just be sure to use the extra cash effectively.
