OTron
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Posts posted by OTron
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A couple of really good players in that last intake. Hopefully they can fire you into the playoffs!
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Great career so far! How do you embiggen the images from Gyazo? Thanks.
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END OF SEASON 2027/28
Things had to change from the last 3 seasons, so it was a change in formation and the use loan signings allowed us to clinch the title, even if it did go down to the wire. But the difficult part had just began. We would face Brora in the Highland-Lowland Playoff Final.
A tough win. It seemed fate had dealt us our opponent for the Ladbrokes League 2 relegation playoff - Stranraer. The team that beat us in the same playoff in 2023/24 causing the club 4 more years of heartache outside of the League structure. It was the biggest 2 games in the history of the club and in my managerial career.
We did it! Finally! The anguish of the loss 4 years ago erased. For the first time in its history Burntisland Shipyard FC would be playing Scottish League football.
I'm glad we got promoted this season because our Cup runs were heartbreaking. We lost in 3 separate Cup Finals, ouch.
AWARDS
TRANSFERS
IN
A slew of signings as we continued to lose first 11 players throughout the season. The 4 Loan signings in February were key to us gaining promotion as it meant enough quality bodies to get results.
OUT
10 first 11 players gone this season. So much quality lost that our scouts spent a long time finding, it's painful to look at the transfers Out column at the end of each season. Maybe League 2 would mean a stop to all the quality players leaving for free - somehow I doubted it.
After the celebrations finished and the headache passed I went down to Kirkton Recreation Park to take a walk around and reminisce on the journey thus far to reach League football. I allowed myself a moment knowing that the hard work had only just began and now it was about surviving in League 2 and pushing on to goal of becoming a Scottish football powerhouse.
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1 hour ago, Nobby_McDonald said:
Great start OTron.
Thanks, Nobby. It's an interesting save so far
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END OF SEASON 2026/27
With on-field progress slowed considerably I have decided to make these updates once per season.
Not a good season in the League for us. We had a horrific start which saw us in 12th at the mid-point. We improved in the back half of the season to finish in 6th but were a huge 24 points off first. Stirling Uni won the promotion playoff so we wouldn't be facing them again next season at least.
We did add another 2 cups to the trophy cabinet. The team's performance in these big matches is encouraging.
Speaking of the trophy cabinet we now have a decent silverware collection for a club who had never won anything before I joined.
AWARDS
TRANSFERS
IN
I have started signing a few non UK & Irish players to try and improve the squad. It's not working so far
OUT
Quality players that improve the team leave about as quickly as we can sign them as evidenced by Rodrigo Matos and Paul Russell - excellent players for this level and both at the club less than a full season.
This off-season we are taking a boat out onto the Firth of Forth to enjoy the weather
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END OF SEASON 2025/26
A 4th place finish and an end to the worst season in the clubs history. Some serious rebuilding will be required from here - let me explain.
Around August 2025 the club entered in talks with a fan led consortium to take over the club. In something I have never seen before in FM the talks seem to drag on forever all the while I was unable to sign players.
This in combination with probably the worst season of player poaching the club has endured mean we were decimated.
Finally in late April 2026 more than 8 months after the talks started they finally ended with this.
Leaving us with a total of only 12 senior players remaining at the club at the end of the 2025/26 season.
AWARDS
So another off-season with a massive rebuild of the clubs playing staff required. I'm also beginning to doubt our tactics and if we don't get promotion next season they will be getting an overhaul. Time to head into Burntisland's local and drink that season into memory.
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MID-SEASON 2025/26
A small update here: after reviewing the squad during the off-season I decided I needed to put the cleaners through the place. I ended up ridding the first team squad of all but 10 players. The scouts earned their wage this off-season, and it was very much a new look Burntisland Shipyard FC that took to the pitch for the start of the 2025/26 Scottish Lowland League. Now onto our results so far this season.
The new players have performed similarly to the old players. It looks like we will be spending another season on the Scottish Lowland League.
TRANSFERS
IN
We needed a lot of new players for the first team so that's what we have here.
OUT
There goes basically our entire youth setup and last year's top scorer and our best player, Cameron Rendall.
Here's a preview of the youth intake
Not good.
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END OF SEASON 2024/25
A disappointing season in the League. Well off the pace in 4th, we never really looked like finishing top. A combination of some of the new signings not performing and losing key players to other clubs at crucial times. The board wasn't pleased and I wholeheartedly agreed with them.
But we at least got out hands on another cup wish keeps the fans happy.
AWARDS
2 of the new signings that did sign this season were Cameron Rendall and Ryan Dow. Dow unfortunately has left the club, leaving us with the memories of one outstanding season. On the other end of the spectrum Marcus Fraser's ill-discipline has seen him released after just one season - 22 yellows and 2 reds!
TRANSFERS
IN
Wholesale changes to the squad and a few players in after losing our own key players to other clubs. It was a bit of a scatter-gun approach this season and it wasn't successful. I would have to revise my approach for next season's campaign.
OUT
6 of our first 11 poached here. It makes it hard to put together a consistent squad each season but that's the difficulty of management life at this level.
It was time again to relax and take in some of Burntisland's beautiful scenery as I formulated a plan of attack for next season.
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YOUTH INTAKE 2025
You know it's going to be bad when it's not a Golden Generation.
And it's horrid
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MID-SEASON 2024/25
This has been a tough season so far. I made the biggest changes to our squad since my tenure began by adding some better quality players, but so far it hasn't paid off and we are in another battle for top spot with 6-7 teams. We are still in the Scottish Cup so there's a hope of some money there.
TRANSFERS
IN
A host of players in as the squad gets a freshen up after the disappointing end to last season. Overall we now have a much better squad in terms of football skill. So far it hasn't translated to better performances on the pitch.
OUT
Another 3 first 11 players poached. In addition to this I also released 5-6 more of the first team squad who were no longer good enough for this division.
And a preview of the next youth intake.
Another poor crop of players.
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5 hours ago, Bristol CityFC1981 said:
Good stuff, love careers like this. I’m currently doing similar in Northern Ireland. Started in level 7 currently 4. But so annoying you lose your best players and have to fend off contract offers all season! Desperately need to go Semi pro
Thanks for reading. Good luck with your save too. Yeah it's really tough constantly losing your best players for nothing. It's hurt us again this season!
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END OF SEASON 2023/24
We won the League on goal difference, which is a great achievement. Then it was on to face the winner of the Highland League in a promotion playoff final.
Which we won! But now we face the last placed team from League 2 over 2 legs to secure promotion - we take on Stranraer.
And it proves to be a bridge too far
Heartbreaking loss. We were so close but conceding 5 over 2 legs isn't good enough.
However there was some consolation in the Cups this season of which we manged to win 2 to complete a treble.
The League win and cup runs had at least taken the finances out of the red, but we still lack the money for our first upgrade.
AWARDS
The aim this off-season will be to replace Sean Slaven and raise the quality of the squad overall to try and chase promotion again. But for now a stroll down to gaze out through Burntisland harbour and contemplate what had been a great season, without the reward we most desired.
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YOUTH INTAKE 2024
Another poor intake.
In the transfer market the club took a huge blow.
Club icon Sean Slaven out the door to League rivals Linlithgow Rose. This hurts as we don't even have enough time to replace him during the season run-in.
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MID-SEASON 2023/24
A solid seasin thus far, 5 points off the top in the Lowland League and still in some cups including the Scottish Cup. Another win against League 2 opposition in that competition leaves me hopeful we won't get relegated should we get promoted. It looks like it's going to be a tough battle for the title though with several teams now competing at the top after East Stirlingshire's promotion.
TRANSFERS
IN
3 New lads in to take up spots in the first 11 opened up by players leaving.
OUT
2 of the first 11 and another crop of youth players gone.
And here's how the youth intake for 2024 is shaping up.
At this point I really need some money to upgrade everything about the youth structure of the club.
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END OF SEASON 2022/23
A good start to life in the Scottish Lowland League, with a 3rd place finish. Much better than I expected but a mile off East Stirlingshire in 1st - though they are being promoted to League 2 this season. Sadly we drew Kilmarnock at home in the Scottish Cup 4th round so it wasn't the money spinner I had hoped. Our facilities remain a disgrace.
AWARDS
Once again Sean Slaven took home the top club honours for the season - he's now a Burntisland Shipyard FC icon. He is also one of the few players who has continuously rejected the numerous offers to join other clubs, good lad.
TRANSFERS
IN
OUT
Gordon Anderson and Kevin Walker the biggest losses from the first 11 this season.
This off-season I will be taking the lads to visit Burntisland's Rossend Castle - we've heard it's haunted!
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YOUTH INTAKE 2023
Golden generation of course.
Gordon Stewart actually has 5 star potential but with our training facilities he's unlikely to ever fulfil that.
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MID SEASON 2022/23
We're performing well in the Lowland League and should be comfortably safe from relegation this season. We are into the 4th round of the Scottish Cup and I'm hoping for a big club and some money to perhaps get our first facility upgrades.
TRANSFERS
IN
Some lads in to fill the gaps and improve the quality of the squad a little.
OUT
Still losing youth players and a couple of first teamers but certainly not as many. I have realised that even though we are a semi-pro club that we only offer appearance based bonuses and not a weekly wage, which is how other clubs are having a free shot at signing anyone they please from our club.
Here's a preview of our Youth Intake.
Hopefully a little better than last season.
This is interesting as we have a small fan base (avg. attendance is 262) and no money.
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END OF SEASON 2021/22
We won the League on the final day of the season. Beating Crossgates 2-0 and overtaking them on goal difference. Which setup a Promotion Playoff versus Caley Braves.
Promotion! Next season would see us operating in the Scottish Lowland League and possibly a halt to our massive player drain?
AWARDS
TRANSFERS
IN
More UK and Irish players in to fill the gaps.
OUT
Lots of youth products and a sprinkling of first 11 players out the door this season. It doesn't seem to matter that the clubs poaching them play in the divisions below us, out the door they go.
Next season will be a tough battle to avoid relegation in the Scottish Lowland League, but we are also only one step from League 2. For now it's time to kick back and soak up some sun on the beautiful Burntisland coastline.
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YOUTH INTAKE 2022
Well my Head of Youth Development is terrible so I shouldn't be surprised he thinks this is a golden generation...
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MID-SEASON 2021/22
Another good season so far. Should be involved in another title fight.
TRANSFERS
IN
Here's our UK & Irish players that have come in to fill the gaps left by our huge amount of transfers out.
OUT
It's mainly youth players I'm losing. Although the loss of the club's best player, Robbie Crawford, to League 2 side Cove Rangers is a huge loss.
Here's how the Youth Intake is looking.
Awful
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END OF SEASON 2020/21
A good solid season from the boys.
AWARDS
Now to the transfers. I ended up losing so many players that I had to sign a few - so this is no longer strictly a youth only save (I will remove the tag). I am going to try and sign as few players as I can, but I need at least enough to field a team. I did want this to be a Youth Only save though so I am now unsure if I will continue with it.
TRANSFERS
IN (5)
OUT (23)
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YOUTH INTAKE 2021
Another "golden generation" but how many of them will actually stay at the club this time? There is 4 left from last year's intake.
No player that stands out as great, but some badly needed bodies at the club. Interestingly we got an Algerian player in this intake.
Robert Campbell from this intake is already wanted by 57 clubs... this is getting silly.
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MID-SEASON 2020/21
The club is having another good season but trouble is on the horizon in the form of a lack of players. Here's the players out so far this season.
We have lost all but 6 of last years youth intake and a fair chunk of the first team. This is supposed to be a youth only save but I now am starting to have greyed out players in the first team squad due to lack of numbers. If this carries on the club is headed for trouble unless I sign some players. I've never seen this before in FM, it's perhaps a quirk of this database I've used. Let's see what happens come end of season.
Here's how the next youth intake is shaping up.
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END OF SEASON 2019/20
Champions it is and promotion to East of Scotland Premier Division. Hopefully being in a higher division means we will stop leaking players. I'm interested to see how we handle the step up in quality.
Here's the team awards.
Now for some well deserved time off spent at Burntisland beach before getting ready for the new season.
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Heartbreaking loss. We were so close but conceding 5 over 2 legs isn't good enough.
[FM20] Scottish ships are burnt
in FM Career Updates
Posted · Edited by OTron
END OF SEASON 2028/29
BREAKING NEWS: For the first time we were able to offer part time contracts this season. It made a huge difference to the quality of player we could attract to the club and also having them stay for a full season. Which brings us to:
Another promotion, the new players made a huge difference and some of them were outstanding quality for this level. Hopefully we can push on and challenge for promotion again next season.
The 4th round of the Scottish Cup was away to Rangers. We lost, but 25,312 fans turned up and took our finances out of the red for the first time in 6 seasons. We ended the season with 190k in the bank. The board still refuse to make any upgrades
We probably need to tone this down for next season. I have a couple of very aggressive players in the team that no amount of fining can rein in. They may need to be sold.
AWARDS
Ludwig Nicklas was outstanding this season. Far too good for this level and it showed when he refused to sign a new contract and will be joining Kilmarnock in the summer.
YOUTH INTAKE 2029
Our youth intakes continue to be awful.
TRANSFERS
IN
I was able to sign some really decent talent for this season. The loan signings were not up to standard though so I would be dispensing with loans next season. I ended up signing quite a few non UK & Irish players this off-season as they were of a much higher standard. I will try and rectify that as much as possible going forward.
OUT
Now I can offer actual contracts we have a lot more control over who leaves the club. The loss of Alessandro Vecchi is painful though - he was a regular starter at 16 and was rated to have huge potential by my coaches.
A great season deserves a great view of our home ground, the gorgeous Kirkton Recreation Park.