Victor Kane sat in his office, staring at the document in front of him. It was official—he wasn't just the head coach anymore. He was Burton Albion's full-fledged manager, entrusted with squad planning, transfers, and long-term development. It wasn't just about match tactics anymore; it was about building a team that could last.
A £20 million budget lay before him, and the weight of it settled on his shoulders. Burton had overachieved last season, but the hard truth was undeniable—his tactics had carried them, not the players. The squad lacked true standout talent, and relying on formations and system buffs alone wasn't sustainable. If Burton Albion wanted to compete beyond survival, they needed real talent.
Victor leaned back, exhaling slowly. He had a lot to do.
Activating Scouting Eye, the system's newly unlocked ability, Victor analyzed his current squad, breaking down individual performances and potential. A translucent panel appeared before him, showing detailed stats for each player, highlighting key weaknesses and strengths.
Current Squad Evaluation
Stephen Quinn (CM, 35) – Passing: 73 | Vision: 75 | Stamina: 59 | Tackling: 70
Aging but still reliable. Leadership qualities intact, but declining physical stats. Could remain as a mentor figure, but a replacement was crucial.
Lucas Akins (ST/RW, 34) – Finishing: 69 | Dribbling: 67 | Strength: 78 | Work Rate: 80
Versatile forward, but his best years were behind him. A valuable squad player but not a long-term solution.
Jamie Allen (CM, 28) – Stamina: 80 | Passing: 72 | Ball Control: 74 | Tackling: 68
Hard-working and energetic. Not an elite midfielder but a great squad player, likely to be a key figure next season.
David Templeton (LW, 33) – Acceleration: 78 | Dribbling: 75 | Crossing: 70 | Composure: 64
Fast, creative, but inconsistent. Could fetch a good transfer fee if sold.
Kyle McFadzean (CB, 36) – Marking: 72 | Tackling: 76 | Strength: 82 | Aggression: 85
Solid defender, but his lack of pace and discipline made him a liability in certain matches. Could serve as depth, but a replacement was needed.
Victor sighed. The core of the team was decent, but they lacked top-tier ability. He could only squeeze so much from his tactics—the individual quality needed to improve. If Burton wanted to compete beyond just avoiding relegation, they needed young, high-potential players.
He took out his transfer list and started making moves.
The first order of business was offloading players who no longer fit his vision for the club. Some were simply too old, others were inconsistent or unsuited for his tactical system. He sent out inquiries, testing the market.
Stephen Quinn – Contract expiring soon. Letting him leave on a free transfer. Lucas Akins – Negotiating a £1.2 million sale to a lower-tier Championship team. David Templeton – Blackpool offered £850,000, and Victor accepted. Kyle McFadzean – Offered to League Two clubs, still awaiting responses. Two fringe players loaned out – Development opportunities.
With £2 million freed up, Victor shifted his focus to scouting signings.
Victor pulled up a list of potential signings, using Scouting Eye to analyze their stats.
Scouted Players
Elliot Harper (ST, 22, Bristol Rovers) – Finishing: 74 | Acceleration: 79 | Strength: 75 | Composure: 72
A promising striker with natural goal-scoring ability and good physical presence. Still raw, but could develop into a key forward.
Transfer Fee: £2.8 million
Marco Silva (CM, 24, Sporting CP) – Passing: 78 | Vision: 80 | Ball Control: 77 | Tackling: 70
A gifted midfielder with elite passing ability for League One level. Would revolutionize Burton's playstyle if signed.
Transfer Fee: £3.5 million
Ryan Caldwell (CB, 26, Dundee United) – Marking: 76 | Tackling: 78 | Strength: 81 | Aerial Duels: 80
A defensive rock with strong aerial presence. A great candidate for stabilizing the defense.
Transfer Fee: £3 million
Bristol Rovers wanted £3.5 million for Harper, but Victor managed to lower it to £2.8 million with add-ons. Sporting CP initially demanded £4 million for Silva, but performance clauses helped settle at £3.5 million. Dundee United accepted £3 million for Caldwell with little resistance.
With £9.3 million spent, Burton had three new key players incoming, but Victor still wanted one more signing before wrapping up.
Victor spoke to each signing, ensuring they understood what they were walking into.
Elliot Harper was hesitant about dropping to League One. "Championship clubs are looking at me too. Why Burton?" he asked.
Victor leaned forward, voice steady. "You won't just be another striker here, Elliot. You'll be the striker. The one leading this team, the one scoring crucial goals. You'll get minutes, development, and a chance to play in a system built for you."
Harper took a long breath. "Alright. I'm in."
Marco Silva had doubts about moving from Portugal to League One. "I won't lie, I expected offers from bigger clubs."
Victor smirked. "This isn't just another team. This is Burton Albion under me."
Silva chuckled. "That confidence, huh? I like it. Let's do it."
he had heard of the new unique coach that was the talk of football recently that alone was a bet worth making.
Ryan Caldwell was straightforward. "I want to win. If Burton can give me that, I'm in."
Victor shook his hand. "Then welcome to the team."
Amidst the chaos of transfers and planning, Victor received a text from his mother.
Mom:Your sister's birthday is in three days! No excuses!
Victor sighed. He had been so immersed in football that he hadn't really thought about his family. His mother's words echoed—You and your father are stubborn. Just make up already.
Victor wasn't sure how he felt about seeing his father again. Their last conversation had been heated, centered around Victor's refusal to inherit the family business. His father had wanted him to focus on finance, but Victor had chosen football instead.
Now, unknowingly, his father had bought the club to ensure Victor could focus on football without distractions. But Victor didn't know that yet.
For now, he just had to go home and face whatever awaited him.
An offseason meant a lot of work but Elena and her team was certainly impressive so most of the thing that would usually cause trouble were already taken care of so who was he to complain. If you can get the job done while lying down why bother even trying to wake up...anyway I've seen coaches around the world have a head full of white hair in their 40s, i am just 25 why bother aging yourself with more work when someone else can do it, ha-ha.