Year 2 – Foundation Setting
8 November 2026
By M J Kocx
Welcome to Year 2!
The due diligence has now been completed.
The real work for long-term planning and success can now begin for the football club.
Structure of the Season for Year 2
Stages of the Season
Transfer Window 1
Pre-season
Mid-season
Transfer Window 2
Post-season
A suggested approach for Year 2 is proposed below, with further explanation provided.
Action Items
Club financials
Playing squad
Academy
Training facilities
Managerial/Coaching
Transfer Policy
Transfer Window 1
Club financials:
Achieve a financial surplus following conclusion of Transfer Window 1, driven mainly by player sales.
Playing squad:
As determined in Year 1, but as a start should ideally have the following parameters.
o Squad of 28 players maximum
o Ranging in ages 16-24 for 80% of the squad (so, 22.4)
o 5-6 senior players on hand if needed, between ages of 24-30.
Academy:
o No immediate action at this stage.
Facilities:
o Identification of facility upgrades, with potential to be financed by player transfer profits.
o Creation of in-house data and analytics team.
o Identification of equipment and staff to upgrade club data and analytical departments.
Managerial/Coaching:
o Retention of existing staff and manager.
Transfer Policy:
o No new signings.
o All players identified as surplus to requirements to be sold by conclusion of Transfer Window 2.
o Profits from surplus player sales to be held by the football club and reallocated in Transfer Window 2.
Pre-Season
Club financials:
o Maintain financial surplus.
Playing squad:
o Finalising of season playing squad for Year 2.
Academy:
o Integration of Academy into first-team pre-season preparations.
Facilities:
o In-house analytical review of current playing squad and its performance.
Managerial/Coaching:
o Retention of existing staff and manager.
Transfer Policy:
o Review player contracts due to expire in 6, 12, and 24 months.
o Develop action plan for negotiating extensions of player contracts.
o Preparing contingency planning for player departures.
Mid-Season
Club financials:
o Maintain positive cashflow position for the football club.
Playing squad:
o Review performance of the playing squad (data and analytics, medical review).
Academy:
o Integration of Academy prospects into first-team, for short stints, limited minutes, and short appearances.
Facilities:
o In-house analytical review of current playing squad and its performance.
Managerial/Coaching:
o Retention of existing staff and manager.
Transfer Policy:
o Developing analytical framework and plan for recruiting Academy products for Years 3 and 4.
o Aim for Years 3 and 4 to be used to integrate new Academy signings into the football club, learn about its history, culture, and playing style.
o Identifying areas of improvement for the current playing squad (e.g. attacking, defence, goalkeeping).
Transfer Window 2
Club financials:
o Secure further net profits for the football club with the sale(s) of surplus players.
Playing squad:
o Early planning for season squad of Year 3.
Academy:
o Continuing integration of Academy players into the first team set up.
Facilities:
o Use of transfer profits to commence facilities projects.
o Identification of short-term facility projects.
o Finalise data and analytical department.
o Identification of short, medium, and long-term Academy players.
Managerial/Coaching:
o Retention of existing staff and manager.
Transfer Policy:
o No new signings for the first team.
o Identification of 1-2 Academy players to be offered long-term playing contracts with the football club.
o Determining which short-term squad members warrant sale in either:
o Transfer Window 2 of Year 2, or
o Transfer Windows 1 or 2 of Year 3.
Post-Season
Club financials:
o Finalise annual financials, securing year on year net profit growth.
Playing squad:
o Early planning for season squad of Year 3.
Academy:
o Continuing collaboration between the Academy and first team setups.
Facilities:
o Continuing identification of short, medium, and long-term Academy players.
Managerial/Coaching:
o Retention of existing staff and manager.
Transfer Policy:
o Determining which short-term squad members warrant sale in either:
o Transfer Window 2 of Year 2, or
o Transfer Windows 1 or 2 of Year 3.
Now, the football club has laid the foundations.
Year 1 was due diligence.
Year 2 was foundation setting.
It is critical the football club’s executive and management teams navigate any short-term struggles and/or fan backlash over the football club’s direction during Years 1 and 2.
Next week, Year 3.
From
Yours truly,
