Hi all,
A brief career history to set the scene.
I started my FM12 career looking for a challenge, so selected the bookies favourites to be relegated from the football league, Barnet.
In my first year, the bookies got it right, I was relegated to the Blue Square South, but after reading various forums and mainly TT&F, I've managed to turn my career around.
In my first season in the BSS I lost in the play off semis and won the FA trophy. In my second year I was promoted as champions.
Two seasons in league two, and I was promoted as champions with 94 points, and reached the Johnstone Paints trophy southern final with my reserves.
Background to the problem
As I like to play a tikka takka style of football (well as much as you can hope to at this level), my team is of a decent quality all around. But I credit most of the teams success to my two best players.
Captain marvel BWM Alex-Ray Harvey, and my super fast target man Phil Airey.
I managed to sign these both up to 4 year deals whilst in league two, on what is for Barnet, a very generous £2,600 per week, appearance and goal bonuses plus annual pay increase.
Now, I have been promoted to league 1, and my wage budget has gone up to £40k from around £30k.
So in the summer, I strengthened my anchorman position with a bit of high quality passing ability by signing Brazilian Roberto Sousa on a generous £3000 per week. Along with Tom Kilbey, a CM also with high passing ability.
This took me about £4k below my salary budget. A position I was happy with going into my first season in a higher division. I always find the board are much more accepting to a poor first season if finances are well under control.
The problem- my cock up
Alex-Ray Harvey, Phil Airey, and new signing Roberto Sousa were all given 'match highest earner' clauses.
When I initially give Alex-Ray his long term contract I didn't expect such success. 'Win league wage increase', yeh no problem. 'team of the year' yeh no problem, 'player of the year', yeh no problem, plus the 'usual' 20% annual increase.
The new contracts have now rolled over, and Alex-Rays wage has gone from £2,600 to £5,200. As a result so have Phil Aireys, and Roberto Sousa (who only signed on £3k a month ago).
Along with the other annual wage increases I am now £8k a week over my annual wage budget
Unsurprisingly, none of my now high earners are interested in renegotiating a lower paid contract.
So I either face having to axe one of my two key players that have gotten me this far. Getting rid of my new signing (although I'd doubt if he'd be willing to leave after signing so recently, or getting rid of half of my remaining squad.
Does anyone have any ideas that I haven't considered? I really don't want to lose my best players, but nor do I want to risk losing my job.
A brief career history to set the scene.
I started my FM12 career looking for a challenge, so selected the bookies favourites to be relegated from the football league, Barnet.
In my first year, the bookies got it right, I was relegated to the Blue Square South, but after reading various forums and mainly TT&F, I've managed to turn my career around.
In my first season in the BSS I lost in the play off semis and won the FA trophy. In my second year I was promoted as champions.
Two seasons in league two, and I was promoted as champions with 94 points, and reached the Johnstone Paints trophy southern final with my reserves.
Background to the problem
As I like to play a tikka takka style of football (well as much as you can hope to at this level), my team is of a decent quality all around. But I credit most of the teams success to my two best players.
Captain marvel BWM Alex-Ray Harvey, and my super fast target man Phil Airey.
I managed to sign these both up to 4 year deals whilst in league two, on what is for Barnet, a very generous £2,600 per week, appearance and goal bonuses plus annual pay increase.
Now, I have been promoted to league 1, and my wage budget has gone up to £40k from around £30k.
So in the summer, I strengthened my anchorman position with a bit of high quality passing ability by signing Brazilian Roberto Sousa on a generous £3000 per week. Along with Tom Kilbey, a CM also with high passing ability.
This took me about £4k below my salary budget. A position I was happy with going into my first season in a higher division. I always find the board are much more accepting to a poor first season if finances are well under control.
The problem- my cock up
Alex-Ray Harvey, Phil Airey, and new signing Roberto Sousa were all given 'match highest earner' clauses.
When I initially give Alex-Ray his long term contract I didn't expect such success. 'Win league wage increase', yeh no problem. 'team of the year' yeh no problem, 'player of the year', yeh no problem, plus the 'usual' 20% annual increase.
The new contracts have now rolled over, and Alex-Rays wage has gone from £2,600 to £5,200. As a result so have Phil Aireys, and Roberto Sousa (who only signed on £3k a month ago).
Along with the other annual wage increases I am now £8k a week over my annual wage budget
Unsurprisingly, none of my now high earners are interested in renegotiating a lower paid contract.
So I either face having to axe one of my two key players that have gotten me this far. Getting rid of my new signing (although I'd doubt if he'd be willing to leave after signing so recently, or getting rid of half of my remaining squad.
Does anyone have any ideas that I haven't considered? I really don't want to lose my best players, but nor do I want to risk losing my job.
