Champ Manager 01/02: Newcastle Revival (Pre-Season 01, Part 1)

Surprisingly for the club of Newcastle size, the board are only expecting us to fight bravely for survival – but with a decent transfer budget of nearly £10m and a decent army of scouts, things should be manageable.

First things first, and the scouts are dispatched to fertile breading ground around the world. France, Belgium and Holland are targeted, and contracts offered to two more scouts with excellent judging of ability and potential.

The squad itself is fairly decent as well, with club legend Alan Shearer still playing as well as hot young prospects Keiron Dyer and Jermain Jenas – who will probably anchor the midfield for the side this season. Strangely enough, the makers of Championship Manager have decided to make Dyer and Jenas defensive midfielders – but that should all be ironed out in due course.