My "first" challenge is to help one of the oldest football club in the UK (or world). Balance is a big red, but the stadium seems promising. Lot of work to do.

First game after finding some free transfers and loans. Good start using narrow tactic.

October season 1, Board injected 1,6 M but I have to reduce the wage bill, sell about 15 players squad and reserves, signing 11 free players so now I have 37 players and still have 5 on the transfer list. This month I have 300K/month deficit (comparing wage vs gate receipts)

First half season 1 big gap, no WIBWOB, still red balance, counting on gate receipts from FA cup and Vans trophy (pray for home draw)

Season 1 complete and champions of Div 2 @Official_NCFC into Division One. But I think the challenge is over too. New Board clear all the debt and give some cash for transfer fee. Tempted to do alphabetical challenge.

Ready for season 2, and very excited by 2 new signings from Greece. @Official_NCFC are ready to fight again.

End of season 2. Clearly too easy for Skalidis. Let's see what can he do in PL.

We are through to the League Cup Final with style. But united are simply too powerful in the league. Maybe, we need another season ir two until we get the PL title but it's getting close.

First trhophy. Still worried by last minute goal conceded.

End of season 3. Finished at 6th because some declining performance in the last 10 games as we claim League cup trophy and reach FA cup final. Pretty confidence to the 4th season.

This is a very very bad news, he is our goal machine scoring 105 goals in 95 apps.

End of season 4, we are doing good job. I think it's time to find another club to refresh. Still no top league title for me. I will come back to England.

So 1 League Cup title and 2 lower division champions are not enough to attract even a lower Belgian league club. My reputation is a "fair" now.

End of season 5, @crewealexfc to the English First Division.

Thanks to, another Greek hitman, scoring 47 goals in 45 apps.

FA Cup Semi Final, here we go. @crewealexfc

End of season 6. Promoted to Premier Division. @crewealexfc

End of season 7. We have serious problem on defence. 50 goals is way to much. United are so far away with that gap, maybe Premier league is a wrong option for starting an alphabet challenge. Bring on the second PL season. @crewealexfc we go again.

Aaand look what we got. A real hitman Skalidis. Notts Co are in financial trouble now. We are lucky to get him quickly after several try. Next target : CB

End of season 8. "C" is done. Premier league title and UEFA cup. The Greeks drive @crewealexfc forward. Skalidis is a monster. It"s time to find a new club in another league and continue the alphabet challenge.

Move to Germany, SC Freiburg curently on 9th in German Second Division. Balance at red 2,2 M we need to fix the wage structure, sell the unused player and find some cheap young talented players. Let's do it

End of season 9, SC Freiburg promote to German First Division but the finance is getting worst. 11 players are to be sold or released next season including 2 first team members to get 3,2M. We must get some free sign replacements. #cm0102
#scfreiburg

Very good news, we have a new board and some money to build our squad for next season and surely we go to Greece again, some chips are not taken yet.

And here they are, our new signing. Some. The Canadian is a free 24 years old random regen. Corominas is only 90K from Scottish league. Arganis was totally unused by my previous club Crewe, and Aritoglidis is a top scorer in Greek A Division.

End of season 10, first season in German First Division we scores lot of goals but Dortmund are too strong while Bayern are in the wrong hand.

And again Skalidis to rescue . This time he get full back up from a legend Maxim, what a duo. Meanwhile we still have no clue for CB. Expecting last minutes roller coaster in every match. Bring on 11th season.

End of season 11, easy one for Freiburg. A league title and a special achievement Champions Cup. Skalidis is realy a legend scored 48 in 46 apps. "F" is done. Let's continue the journey.

Next, V for VVV. They are strugling with financial condition now, so no transfer fee. Let's build a new squad starting with finding free signing players.

No wonder they were 15th in Dutch First Division last season, squad are so poor. I think we need minimum 2 seasons to promote to the Premier Division.

End of season 14, boys had a hard strugle in the 10 last games. Only get 3 wins and drop from 1st to 6th after long 20 games leading the league.

Season 18, my sixth season at VVV and we can't handle PSV. So vrustrating. Should I resign or keep trying? @cm0102legends @champmegasave #alphabetchallenge

Season 19 on going. Desperately for a firm DC, and this youngster from Brazil look promising. Goias want 9,75M for him, just as much as my transfer budget. Worth it? @cm0102legends @champmegasave

This. Could be the best way to finish my VVV journey but I will accept any result in Champions Cup at this stage as long as we get League title @cm0102legends @champmegasave

End of season 19. 7 seasons at VVV : Dutch Premier League title and Champions Cup runner-up, hammered by golden goal rule. But it's, realy time to move now. @champmegasave @cm0102legends

Start of season 20. R for @RangersFC, what a good move to a legendary club. The board want title (surely) @cm0102legends @champmegasave #alphabetchallenge #cm0102

Another Champions Cup Final for me. Rangers's squad depth is very helpful, they have full squad of 50. Zero new signing in my first spell. Another "no giants" season in the Champions Cup. I hope this time we get lucky. @champmegasave @cm0102legends

End of season 20. First season at @RangersFC : Premier League Title, Champions Cup runners up, and Scottish Cup winner.
I think the letter 'R' is done. We move to find a more challenging club. @champmegasave @cm0102legends #alphabetchallenge #cm0102

Season 21. "A" for Aurillac FC. Curently at French National League (tier 3). Healthy finance and great club logo. Expect for a great journey here. @cm0102legends @champmegasave #alphabetchallenge #cm0102

The most promising Jimmy. I found him by "School find" on "find menu". Most of no club youngster are have their attribute revealed. This is different thing, when I manage a higher reputaion club, we need to assign a scout to know their attr.

End of season 21. Champions of French National League . One tip, find good a loanee or two. They keep delivered. Squad is good enough to stay at First Division, but not gonna think about domestic cup @cm0102legends

*a good

Two big offers, but I've done with 'C', and I'll save united for the last. This Aurillac is very interisting.

Season 22. This is special, with very thin aquad and some average boys. #Aurillac will be the smallest club in the French First Division next season. #cm0102
@cm0102legends @CM0102blogs
@champmegasave

End of season 23. Honestly, this is my favourite, planned to improve the club's stadium (3000 seats now) as a main source of funds, but this situation is unavoidable. So "A" is done. We go again.
@champman0102 @champmegasave @cm0102legends #cm0102 #alphabetchallenge

Season 24 we go to Spain. @JerezClubFutbol just celebrate their 50th anniversary last year. It would be nice to bring them to the highest level of the Spain footbal.
VAMOS TEMPLARIOS, VAMOS JEREZ!!!!
#cm0102

Update season 24, first season at @JerezClubFutbol after 24 games and we get "lucky" in this match. Should be top of table now. The league is getting wild and wild now, 6 points separated between leaders and 8th position.
Baci is the best performer for us so far.

4th place for @JerezClubFutbol, through to the Promotion Group. Still a long way to go. Can we get promotion right now?
@champmegasave #cm0102

Meanwhile, some interesting offer from England is coming.

End of season 24. Undefeated in the promotion group but @JerezClubFutbol failed to promotion. We have problems in DC and AMC. Long search for loanee next season, but it's a routine job for me now in this challenge and it's fun. @champmegasave
#cmp0102

@JerezClubFutbol are into promotion group for the second time. #cm0102 #cm0102challenge

End of season 25. Congratss @JerezClubFutbol for the great promotion. Next to conquer, The Spain Second Division.
VAMOS TEMPLARIOS, VAMOS JEREZ!!!!

End of season 26. So inconsistent from GKs and AMCs. Aiming top six, but 11th is not bad for a new comer @JerezClubFutbol so we go again. #cm0102
@cm0102legends @champmegasave

End of season 27. @JerezClubFutbol :
* Promote to Spanish First Div.
* Finish 3rd
* Hristov top scorer (29 goals)
VAMOS TEMPLARIOS.. VAMOS JEREZ !!!
#cm0102 #alphabetchallenge
@champmegasave @cm0102legends

So where are the giants now? Even us can go so far in our first time in the First Division. Second Division is much more competitive.
@cm0102legends @champmegasave

Oh.. here is one of them.

End of season 28. @JerezClubFutbol first season spell in top tier :
* Champions of Spanis First Division
* Spanish Cup Qtr Final
I wonder what will happen to this club next season.
@cm0102legends
@champmegasave

First Champions Cup match for @JerezClubFutbol
VAMOS JEREZ!!!

End of season 29 @JerezClubFutbol :
* 2nd title of Spanish First Division
* Failed to Qualified from Champions Cup Group Stages 1
* 5000 seats stadium axpanded
It's time to move
VAMOS JEREZ !!!

Season 30, we go to England again. W for @Wolves, currently 9th in First Division and in good financial state.

No, thanks. I'm in love with @Wolves. We are going to Premier Leauge. @cm0102legends @champmegasave

Meanwhile... Big upset for Manchester United
@cm0102legends

End of season 31 @Wolves :
* 2nd place of English Premier Division, going to Champions Cup
* FA Cup Qtr Final
* Excellent goal scoring
* Poor defending

End of season 32 @Wolves :
* Very close to the league title
* Champions Cup Quarters
* Frustrated with all my DCs
#cm0102
#alphabetchallenge
@champmegasave

Half way of season 33 @Wolves slumped to 11th after 14 matches, failed in the Champions Cup group stages and get eliminated in the league cup. Very bad, my players have lost confidence in me after 5 defeats in 6, so I got sacked. Move on!
@cm0102legends @champmegasave
#CM0102

Won't apply anywhere for a while, just waiting for an offer from any club. I wonder which club would approach me after this situation.

So far, in 33 years of career, I've done with :
A (Aurillac)
C (Crewe)
F (Freiburg)
R (Rangers)
V (VVV Venlo)
-------------------------
But I've failed with :
N (Notts Co)
W (Wolves)
--------------------------
So I will accept anything but A,C,F,R, and V.

Letter A and C is done, so I must reject these offers. Next....

First Italian club to manage, Palermo finished 14th in the Serie C2B 2032/33 season. Finances are in red balance.
#alphabetchallenge
#cm0102

End of season 34 Palermo :
* SerieC2/C Champions
* Promote to Serie C1/B
* Keep the finance in green, but still no funds for transfers.

End of season 35, Palermo :
* Runner up Serie C1/B
* Got promotion to Serie B by play off

End of season 36, Palermo :
* Finished 8th at Serie B

End of season 37 with Palermo :
* Finished 2nd in the Serie B
* Promoted to Serie A
------
* Squad needs an extra upgrade
* Only 8M funds available but it is more than enough to get some cheap talents from Sweden, Portugal and Croatia.
@cm0102legends
#alphabetchallenge

End of season 38 with Palermo :
* Finished 5th in Serie A
* UEFA Cup next season
* Most goal scored but also most goal conceded

End of season 39 with Palermo
* Serie A : 2nd
* Most goal scored
* Still have a serious problem in defence
* UEFA Cup : Champions

End of season 40 with Palermo :
* 3rd in Italian Serie A
* Italian Cup Winner
* Failed in Champions Cup Group Stages 2
* Try new (old) tactic 4-3-3 narrow
* Frustrated with defence
#alphabetchallenge #cm0102

End of season 41 with Palermo :
* Italian Seria A : 1st
* European Champions Cup : 2nd
* Italian Cup : 2nd
Need 8 seasons for me in Italy
It is time to move.
#alphabetchallenge
#cm0102

End of season 42 with Hasborn :
* German Regional Division (South) : 2nd, Promotion
* Most goal scored
* Top scorer player : Benjamin Maier
#alphabetchallenge #cm0102

New record high and new record low at same time.

So proud we have a battle against FC Bayern....in relegation zone of the German Second Division!!!

And they can't stand

Bloody hell. What they have done?? @cm0102legends @champman0102

End of season 43, with Hasborn :
* German Second Division : 9th
* Healthy finance, make a small funds for next transfer
* Ready for promotion battle???

End of season 44, with Hasborn :
* German Second Div : 2nd, win promotion.
* German Cup : Quarter Final
* Have 5,25 M transfer funds
* Ready for battle in the First Division

Squad overhaul, it takes 2,8M for 12 players. After the start of the new season we have 8,4M in green.

End of season 45, with Hasborn :
* First appearance in the top division
* German First Division : 7th
* German Cup : Quarter Final
* Finance : 10,4 M

Two games left, need more than luck
#alphabetchallenge
#cm0102

Very bad we got one point in the last two games.
End of season 46, with Hasborn :
* German First Division : 3rd
* UEFA Cup : Quarter Final
* German Cup : Third Round
* Request for Stadium Expansion
#alphabetchallenge
#cm0102

My request for ground improvement was turned down. It's a same story.
#cm0102

End of season 47 :
* German First Division : 1st
* UEFA Cup : Champion
* German Cup : 3rd Round
Hasborn is done. Off to another league. Belgium or Greece is my destination.
#alphabetchallenge #cm0102

Very happy to landed at Greek Football. There are no first division clubs available to apply. So, another small club to promote, but no grey player this time . Trikala currently in Greece National B Division. Board expect a hard battle of relegation.
#alphabetchallenge

Alphabet chalenge, end of season 48. Letter 'T' with Trikala :
* Greek National B : 1st. Promote to GNA
* Greek Cup : 3rd Round

#alphabetchallenge #cm0102
Season 49, letter T ; Trikala :
* Greek National A Div : 4th
* German Cup : Final
It's more difficult to attract good players even from Sweden or Portugal. I found it easier at Germany.
Intertoto Cup next season.

6 games left to play. On the way to finish the "T" letter, but watch carefully, teams below the big 3 are have a very bad goal rate per game (less than 1 goal/game). We have the best attack but the worst defence at the other end.
#CM0102
@cm0102legends @champmegasave

#alphabetchallenge #cm0102
End of season 50, letter "T" with Trikala :
* Greek National A Div : 2nd
* Intertoto Cup : Final (not qualified to UEFA Cup)
* Greek Cup : 3rd Round
Goal difference separate the league title. Gutted.

Brutal... Three straight red cards agianst Giant Arsenal secure our struggle to reach the UEFA CUP Quarter Final. #cm0102

#alphabetchallenge #cm0102
Letter "T" : Trikala
Season 51 :
* Greek National A Div : 1st
* Champions Cup : Group Phase 1 (3rd)
* UEFA Cup : Quarter Final
* Greek Cup : Winners
One more season here to see what the board will do with training camp and stadium.

So, after 51 seasons doing #alphabetchallenge here is my achievement (in alphabetical order)
Aurillac
Crewe
Freiburg
Hasborn
Jerez
Notts Co (failed/resign)
Palermo
Rangers
Trikala
VVV Venlo
Wolves (failed/sacked)
#cm0102

#alphabetchallenge #cm0102
End of season 52
Letter T done with Trikala :
* Greek National A Division : Winners
* Champions Cup : Phase 1 Group (3rd)
* UEFA Cup : Runners Up
* Greek Cup : Winners
Move from Greece, Belgium is my next destination.

No job available in Belgium. Meanwhile, one club in Holland are in bancrupty and in the edge of relegation from the Dutch Premier Division.
Emmen are hardly fighting financial and league position now.
11M in red balance, and are in 3rd pos at Playoff group. #cm0102

My first match at Emmen is the last match of the play off group 2.
We're relegated to the First Division.

#alphabetchallenge #cm0102 season 53
Letter E : Emmen
* Dutch First Division : 8th
* Dutch Cup : Second Round
* Finance : 5,7M Balance in red
* Transfer out : 18 players (cash in 375K)
* Transfer in : 9 players (free)
* Wage bill now : 29,5K/w (25 players)

Save error, I have to restart the game at mid season now. After 19 games we are 8th.

#alphabetchallenge #cm0102 season 53
Letter E : Emmen
* Dutch First Division : 4th
* Dutch Cup : Second Round
* Finance : 6,5M Balance in red
* Transfer out : 20 players (cash in 700K)
* Transfer in : 9 players (free)
* Wage bill now : 26,5K/w (23 players)

#alphabetchallenge #cm0102
Season 54, letter E : Emmen
* Dutch First Division : Winners
* Dutch Cup : 3rd Round
* Finance : 5,7M in Red Balance
* Squad : 23 players
* Total squad wage bill : 22,5K/w
* Average wage : 975/w
Next season : Dutch Premier Division

We are in very good form. Topping the table after 6 wins in 7 games. Thanks to our new DMC signing, Huber.
The Board injected 2,2M, so our finances are only 1,1M to be cleared by month to month profit (depend on home game attendance and merchandising) #alphabetchallenge #CM0102