£0 Budget, Still Better Than You. Dover Athletic journey to promotion.

Bored?

Me too. This is the reason why I decided to publish my journey with Dover Athletic.

This save is more difficult than the standard one. SirTavares created a pack to make things harder. I decided I will put it to final test. Already played with Sampdoria on Berserk v1.

💸 Berserk Mode – Survival Football

Berserk Mode takes everything from Hardcore Mode and pushes it further by attacking the financial foundations of football. Money is tight, budgets are reduced, and growth becomes painfully slow. Every contract matters. Every transfer is a risk. Financial mismanagement is no longer forgiven.

- Global financial nerf;
- Zero transfer and wage budgets;
- Removed sponsorship income;
- Slower club growth and harsher consequences.

This is survival football. Only well-run clubs endure.
Two paths. One goal. Survive football at its hardest.

This is my Journey with Dover Athletic until I either get sacked or achieve perfection (am I that good?)

Dover are predicted to finish 17th in the National League South.

I skipped media day. I’m not really a public guy.
My social media doesn’t exist. You won’t find my grumpy face anywhere. But who cares?



At my first meeting with the boss, he tells me we have to use a tactic created by one of the biggest FM influencers, Flashy Josh.

I won’t lie — I wasn’t annoyed… but I was getting there.
So I asked, why?

He said, “His tactics are always perfect. The best. Guaranteed success.”

I tried to stay calm, but this guy clearly visits FM Scout far too often.

“Listen, Jim,” I said. “I know I’m older and grumpier than him, but experience comes with age. I’ve got a tactic built specifically for your team.”

It’s a 4-2-3-1.
I’ve called it RAF 303 Squadron.

“What?” he asked.

Out of respect for the Polish pilots who fought against the Nazis during World War II. They were just as mad as I am.

Then he said, “I think we’ve made a mistake.”

“Give me time until December,” I replied. “Let me use my tactics. If I can’t convince you by then, I’ll walk away — no compensation, no arguments.”

He leaned back.
“Hmmm… OK. I guess there’s a reason people call you Grumpy Dwarf.”

"I understand the grumpy part,” he said, “but why dwarf?”

“You look like a washed-up middleweight boxer with that broken nose.”

Anyone who knows me knows I enjoy sarcasm, and somehow the dwarf description fits perfectly.

I told you, boss, I’m not selling dreams. I work hard every day to keep my word.

We’re top of the table, and we’re getting promoted.









I know you want me to avoid relegation next season, but we need more cash. Most of our players’ contracts expire at the end of the season. I’ve offered them new deals, but they’re asking for three times what they currently earn. We simply don’t have that kind of money.

He said, “If they don’t reduce their expectations, they can walk.”

Hmm. Easier said than done. What happens if we have to let them all go?

Jim replied, “We have youth players, don’t we? They can play too.”

Boss, I know this Irish lad, Finn, is quite good—and I will use him, even though he’s only 16. We still need more players.



Jim said. "That concluded our meeting. You can ask as much as you want—but my answer is no."


Honestly, this promotion has gone to his head. He thinks we can win things with just any players.

I’ll have to wait and see. Maybe they’ll reduce their expectations once their contracts expire.





The game time is not actual. I have a game running in the background most of the time.

After that chat with the boss, I definitely needed a drink—so I went clubbing with the fans. Judging by the chants, they’d also love Jim to splash a bit of cash.