Poll: Should I stay at Harrogate or Should I go?

[Eaglesfan27]

The background can be found in my Harrogate Threads in the dynasty section, but to summarize in 5 years I've taken Harrogate from the English Conference North up into League One. I feel like I'm starting to build a team that could even compete at that level. However, the team is very poor and they can't afford to expand our stadium. Also, they can't afford to improve training facilities. As a result, I feel like League One is likely the highest I'll ever be able to go with this team.

When I started my Harrogate dynasty, the goal was simple: Take them as high as possible, and stay until I get an offer from either Chelsea, Manchester United, or Arsenal (and eventually I added Liverpool to that list.) Now, Wigan has just lost their manager who left to take over Liverpool. Wigan have approached me about taking over the team.

The pluses:

- They have Stuart Elliott (one of my favorite players from Hull in CM 03/04 - my first experience ever with CM.)

- I would have a whopping 8.4 million dollar transfer budget (only 32,000 dollars at Harrogate.)

- I would be able to have a weekly salary of 240,000/week for all of my players (currently 24,000 at Harrogate.)

- I would have a 25,000 all seater stadium with undersoil heating. I currently have a 3,800 (750 seat) capacity stadium

- I would have top training facilities plus a youth academy. Harrogate has horrendous facilities as the team hasn't been able to expand the stadium of the training facilities.

- I would have several very good veteran players, and a good youth team to work with (which unfortunately looks like it has been hurt by the regen bug.)

- I'd be able to help Harrogate by paying them generously for a few players that I would want to bring with me.

Negatives:

- I'd be leaving Harrogate for a team that I didn't mention in the beginning of this dynasty (i.e. changing the conditions midstream.)

- I'm just starting to finally win a bit in League One, I won't get to see how far I truly could have taken them (although I still think I'd barely avoid relegation.)

- The patch (whenever it comes out) seems like it would force the Harrogate board to expand the stadium to meet minimum league one standards which would help the financial situation there.

- A Bigger club would mean pressure to win now, the team is currently 21st in the Championship.

[Raven Hawk]

Situations always change. Take the money and your favorite players and run. If you can run with Wigan, Arsenal is not too far away is it?

[condors]

I have to say go, job offers could get cold in a hurry and you can achieve alot with Wigan. Harrogate you have done great with them but how much more can you do? I think you need a new challenge :)

[Barkeep49]

I'm amazed at how overwhelmingly in favor people have been for Eagles leaving.

[Desnudo]

Looks like I'm the lone holdout. The reason I'm against it is that it is much more satisfying to take a team, to me, like Harrogate places than it is a team like Wigan, which actually made it to the premiership as a comp team in my game. Getting Wigan to Europe in 2-3 seasons would be simple.

[Poli]

I'm with him.

[3ric]

I'd say go - as a manager, you're sometimes in danger of being sacked. Now turn the tables and give Harrogate the boot.

[Eaglesfan27]

Thanks for all of the replies. This has been a tough decision. I really like Stuart Elliott (he was absolutely fantastic for me in CM 03/04 with Hull.)

I think I'm going to load up the game, and ask for an expansion to the stadium (they have said no 4 times in the past years.)

For the first time ever, I'll issue an ultimatum if they say no. I don't know if ultimatums are immediate like the request response is? If it is, I'll make my decision based upon that. If they agree to expand, I'll stay because that will help the financial situation. Otherwise, I'm going to take the job at Wigan because without expansion to the stadium I just think the Harrogate job is becoming an untenable situation to continue to thrive in.

[Eaglesfan27]

Darn it. I can't get the reply to an ultimatum unless I refuse the job, so that wasn't much help in making the decision. They did refuse my request (again.)

[Crapshoot]

Eagles, you might want to do a save game bit - then decline the job, and see what happens. Im not sure, but I think that even if you turn Wigan down, you could apply for the job again (although they might not give it you having turned em down once).

[Eaglesfan27]

Eagles, you might want to do a save game bit - then decline the job, and see what happens. Im not sure, but I think that even if you turn Wigan down, you could apply for the job again (although they might not give it you having turned em down once).
I've thought about it. I usually don't like playing with save games like that, but in this case it might be acceptable. I mean IRL if a manager issued an ultimatum he would probably get a reply right away..

[Eaglesfan27]

I'm on call tonight, so I'm not sure if I'll get to act on this tonight, but I've made a decision.

I did advance a day after saving to see what happens with my ultimatum. The board rejected my demands because they were in charge of the finances, and I should just stick to the football management decisions. They were willing to forgive my outburst just this once since I've done so much for the team. That was the final deciding factor. I'm going to take the Wigan job. I know that this team *might* be easy to do well with, but I want to ultimately compete at the highest level. I don't think I'd be able to get Harrogate to the Championship in 1, 2 or even 3 years. All of my jobs offers have been 1 league higher, and I don't think I'll get a job from one of the big 4 until I do something good with a team in the championship. This will be a new interesting challenge.

I will help out the Harrogate finances by offering them very generous offers (significantly above value) for a few of my favorite players including some of the new acquisitions. I'll also follow them in my dynasty periodically to see how they do.

I'm sorry to anyone who voted no that I disappointed (particularly the one person who voted since I said I would only leave for one of the big 4 that I should stay.) I'll probably post this in my main dynasty thread as well.