The Climb #5 – The Review
Previously
Kat’s review came early. Objectives were logged. No verdict was offered.
Veruca, speaking for The Association, simply said:
“They’re ready when you are.”
The meeting room felt quiet and cold.
A long table. Straight-backed chairs. Neutral walls.
Veruca stood by the door, her expression unreadable.
Association mode in full effect.
Kat took a slow breath.
Right, let’s get this done.
The door opened and three Association representatives entered.
No introductions or small talk.
They took their seats opposite her.
Veruca stepped forward to close the door, then moved to the side.
Not beside Kat. Not with the Association. Neutral.
THE ASSOCIATION: Miss Roberts, thanks for attending your review.
KAT: Of course.
THE ASSOCIATION: We’ll begin with objective verification.
THE ASSOCIATION: Objective one – reach the Welsh Cup semi-finals. Result: winners.
KAT: Yes.
THE ASSOCIATION: Objective met.
Kat released a breath she hadn’t realised she was holding.
THE ASSOCIATION: Objective two: three U19 players to reach ten senior appearances.
KAT: I’ve really tried but…
THE ASSOCIATION: Three qualifying players identified – Stone, Thomas, Mathias.
THE ASSOCIATION: Objective met.
Kat felt her shoulders drop a fraction. She hoped it looked intentional.
You have completed both objectives for this phase of the climb. You are eligible for progression.
Eligible, a small but heavy word.
KAT: Thank you.
THE ASSOCIATION: We will notify you when a position becomes available in the next league. Until then, you remain with Barry Town United.
The representatives closed their folders and left with the same efficiency they’d entered.
No handshakes. No congratulations.
It wasn’t cold or unkind – it was The Association.
The door clicked shut and Veruca stepped forward at last.
Her expression softened slightly – just enough to notice.
VERUCA: Well done, I knew you’d pass quickly.
KAT: Did you?
VERUCA: Of course, you put in the work.
KAT: You could’ve told me before I nearly passed out.
VERUCA: That’s not how The Association works, we like to keep you on your toes.
Veruca gave a small smirk.
Kat leaned back, finally feeling like she could breathe again.
KAT: Phase one is complete.
VERUCA: Now you build and prepare.
KAT: For what?
VERUCA: Whatever happens.
The instruction was clear: she would be notified when a position became available in the next league. Until then, she remained at Barry Town United.
Veruca explained what that actually meant as they walked back down the corridor, her heels tapping softly against the floor.
VERUCA: We choose the league, not the club.
KAT: So I’m cleared to move on, but I still have to be hired?
VERUCA: Yes. The Climb sets your path, the club decides if you fit.
Kat nodded. It made sense.
She just hadn’t realised how much she’d assumed the hard part was over.
The first rejection arrived two days later.
Polite and careful.
A sentence about experience and long-term vision.
She read it once, closed the laptop and went back to training.
One rejection meant nothing.
The second arrived the next morning.
The third that evening.
The fourth before the week was out.
Four clubs.
Four variations of the same answer: not you, not yet.
The fifth arrived quietly, late, like it almost felt bad about it.
By the time the fifth rejection came through, she wasn’t angry, she was just tired.
VERUCA: Five?
KAT: Five.
VERUCA: That’s normal.
KAT: I don’t find that comforting.
VERUCA: You’re not meant to.
KAT: I completed everything. The cup, the youth players.
VERUCA: And you progressed, that hasn’t changed.
KAT: Feels like nothing has changed.
VERUCA: The Association decides when you’re ready, clubs decide when they’re brave.
Kat laughed once – short and dry.
A few days later, Barry offered her a new contract.
Better terms, a longer deal – words like continuity and belief were mentioned.
It wasn’t bad, it was safe.
Veruca didn’t ask what Kat was reading when she walked into the room.
KAT: They want me to stay.
VERUCA: They would.
KAT: What if this is it? What if Sweden doesn’t happen?
VERUCA: Sweden will happen, the question is when.
That was enough for now.
Kat didn’t sign it.
She didn’t decline either.
She closed the contract and filed it away.
It could wait.
The days stretched. Training. Planning. Meetings.
She kept doing a job she’d already completed.
The inbox stayed quiet.
No offers, no rejections.
Barry was still Barry.
And she was still here.
Sweden was still approved.
The next league still waited.
Nothing had been taken away.
The door just hadn’t opened yet.
So she stayed and she worked and she waited.
Not knowing if it would be days.
Weeks.
Months.
Only knowing The Climb hadn’t stopped.
It was just holding its breath.
Author’s Note
This is where I pause the story and briefly admit something.
In-game, I’ve already played the next season so I already know what results come next.
The problem is that Football Manager and narrative pacing have never been close friends. Kat did everything she was supposed to do. FM, meanwhile, looked at that and said: “Yeah but no.”
So we have options.
Option A – We wait.
No shortcuts.
Kat stays at Barry until a Swedish job opens naturally, whenever FM decides that’s allowed.
Option B – We step in.
I use the editor to place Kat into a suitable Sweden Elitettan club and politely ignore FM’s objections.
Option C – We stay.
One more season at Barry.
Not because anything’s gone wrong, but because there’s still something unfinished here.
You won’t know what that is until the next chapter is written.
All three options still respect the rules of The Climb. It’s just about whether we let FM set the pace, or gently nudge it along.
Vote in the comments. I’ll take the result and build the next part around it.
I’d go for option B to be honest as it feels like it could be a while and take much more success in wales before a Swedish club takes notice and wants to take a chance with you so the story could get bogged down for a few years before that happens
I’m torn between B and C. I’ve started to like Barry and since you’ve already played the next season, I’d like to see what happens. Then you could always do B next summer.
I think I’ll say C then B 😛