Interview with Bay Harbour Butchers manager Kylar Stern

As a manager, you had a very successful season. Despite being a self-proclaimed misanthrope, you were runner-up for the Managers’ Manager of the Season and fighting off stiff competition, you won the Community Manager of the Season title. At the end of your second season, how did it feel to pick up an award that your fellow managers picked you for?

KS Some people might think its daft as its 'only a game' but I was sincerely touched and flattered. FML is something I regard more as community where we also play football than a football game where we also talk to people. Craig, who won it last year and won Managers' Manger this season, is a top bloke and I am honoured to follow in his footsteps.

I tend to regard myself more as a 'twitchy recluse' than an out and out misanthrope but I think that's less to do with me and more to do with the vast majority of people 'in real life' acting like complete dicks most of the time - the FML community is a refreshing change as people here are, on the whole, courteous and friendly to one another.

How do you think that managers across the gameworld can help to improve the StJohn community?

KS I think the StJohn community is evolving in positive ways - the rivalries between FAs seem to be building a sense of camaraderie within the FAs and I think the best thing people can do to improve the StJohn's experience is to get involved - talk to the journalists in their leagues, have a boast, make a suggestion - use the journalists to spread the word. I get sent copies of all the reports across the XFA in my role as organiser but whether I was an org or not I think I would try to get my hands on them anyway - and from the other FAs too - they all have their own 'flavour' - like the Premiership, La Ligue, Serie A etc do in the real world.

You also won the Most Improved Manager of the Season award. What do you think propelled you to the award and what tips would you give to managers looking to radically improve their fortunes?

KS I think my decision to give up sleep and play FML 24/7 was a big help. That and the all coffee and instant noodle diet.

In terms of things that might actually be helpful to people I really have one key tip - wage auctions. I picked up nearly all of my lads in wage auctions because I have never had the financial resources to compete directly with teams in the same rankings bracket as myself- while its a shame that people leave FML or move gameworlds, a search of managers who haven't signed in for a while's squads has unearthed a collection of overlooked gems. I think basing my tactics around the players I have managed to get rather than trying to shoehorn them into a tactic has worked out well - but now I am in the worlds most elite league - the XFA Premiership - I guess I will find out what the boys are really made of.

What is your proudest moment in your FML career thus far?

KS I think that's a toss up between winning these awards and coming in as runner up in the MOCHE (The Mods Orgs and Chat Helpers Elite League). Although my boys went down 2-1 in the final to Ian's amazing team making it that far felt like a real achievement - and putting out Horatio Hornblower's outfit on the way felt great. That match was the best I have ever played in FML- it had the lot- away goals, extra time, missed penalties... someone should make a movie of it, it really had that Hollywood feel.

You bagged promotion from the Championship to the Premiership in the XFA, so will get the chance to fight against the likes of perennial 1st ranked Turkiye. How do you rate your chances for the new season?

KS To be honest I would have liked another season in the Champ to consolidate - every team in the Prem could sell one player and buy my whole squad, my sorry excuse for a stadium and the club cat - but now I am there I am aiming for a top ten finish. While Turkiye are unquestionably the best team in the gameworld and I have a great respect for them and their manager, Cihangir - who is also a really nice guy - it's been my ambition since day one of my FML career to become the top team in the world - he's keeping my seat warm - though he might be keeping it warm for a good while yet!

You’ve brought in thirty players since the start of the month, with Anton Putsilo the biggest fee at £120,000 and let fifteen players leave. Are you a Harry Redknapp –style wheeler-dealer, or is there different thinking behind your transfer strategy?

KS Most of the players who came in are part of my youth strategy. Anton Putsilo and William Chiroque have gone straight into the first team at AMC and LW respectively and I also strengthened the bench but the future of my team is definitely the youth. Jonno Pereira who just turned 17 is definitely the leading star in my youth team - and incidentally my squad's highest wage earner at 14k - but I have high hopes for a few boys coming through.

As you tend to buy low and with wages around £70k lower than the highest in your league, is the plan to amass a war-chest of cash for the next set of transfer auctions? Or will the money be invested in stadium construction?

KS They say that necessity is the mother of invention and as we have never had any money, the Bay Harbour Butchers have always been a frugal club - our record signing was 350k and I don't see that changing. What money we do have is going into stadium construction as our shack is a disgrace and the loyal fans deserve better - and, of course, the income they will bring in is vital for the future of the club.

If you’re not a Redknapp type, which manager do you think your FML philosophy most follows? Are you a professor of football like Arsene Wenger, or an old-schooler like Alex Ferguson?

KS FML is a constant learning experience for me - although the various Football Manager games have eaten years of my life FML is very different. I would say my role models as a manager are people from inside FML - Jay Derriman, Craig Legend and Steven Xu would head the list but I have learned from everyone I have played.

Having scored up managers’ awards, will this be the season that you add some FA silverware to your trophy cabinet?

KS Well, my first round XFA cup draw was a blow - away to Turkiye. My boys gave it their best but we went down 2-0 leaving us free to 'concentrate on the league' as they say. With Jonno spearheading the line up I have hopes of maybe getting my first official silverware in the XFA U18 competitions - but even with Jonno's fearsome strike rate we will need a lot of luck.

Kylar, thanks for your time and best luck with the new season!