More or less the only way I play this
(living the dream of football) though having your reputation set to sunday league makes the first 2-3 seasons dull and annoying as you just cant get players who are better than the division without stupid loans.
Iv taken Buton Albion from L2 all the way up to winning the prem
That took 10 seasons and then I lost the will to do the 11th to start the Champions league...
Best tips are you need to push as fast as you can to the Champ, NOTHING else matters except getting your team there and staying in the Champ (even if your 21st on the last day of the season on goal difference), as this is the first league in England with decent(ish) money, big teams and a chance to improve the reputation of you, your team and bring in the crowds.
By the 3rd season there's a brilliant moment where most big teams release a mass of decent Champ players (happens in the first and second season but the 3rd is where most contracts seem to be up) for players like Ben Amos (he's my best example) who are actually good but you never really get the chance to use them as they are stuck at their respective teams.
Last thing is lower leagues are ruined by having a decent attacking play maker and a poacher/target man (whos along side a normal forward). Dont know why but it works pretty well
. Cost me 17M in total, mostly paid up over 48 months.
