Fiercekitties end up winning the league title and promoting back up to D. 3.
Good luck to everyone in IV.9, and perhaps we will run into each other in future cup matches or in other leagues down the road.
My team was in D.3 for several years - but other teams had significantly upgraded their players in a push for the league title. I had little cash on hand and my main big men trainees were ready to be sold, meaning my two new starting big men would be a step backwards, in terms of player ratings and skills. Time to step back and retool the team.
I got demoted, and spent two seasons retooling, plus training up my 6 new big men trainees. Had a great record last season, but got upset in the play-offs. While annoying, it was for the best as my team was not yet ready for D. 3 at the end of last season.
Upgraded my back court with a good new SF and moved a good starter to the 6th man/super sub role. Still have $3M in the bank to upgrade another player if necessary. My trainees are coming along in their skills (did mostly secondary skills last season, while more primary skills this season). The next couple of seasons will be all primary skills training for them. My oldest two trainees are not at D.3 starter level yet, but should be competitive enough, especially in the 2nd half of next season, as they get trained up further for a least two more seasons. Each trainee should be worth several million when they are trained up and I sell them off. Will then reinvest that money into the team. I have my trainees staggered in terms of their ages, so I can sell off one or two each year, replacing each player in the line-up with the guy behind him.
For next season, I predict my team should finish in the playoff relegation area (5th-7th) of the D.3 league - perhaps as high as 4th, if I get lucky. I just need to do enough to stay in that league, survive the playoffs, and then I can start climbing the league table over the next few seasons.
I offer this information as advice to other league members trying to train up their teams for the IV.9 title.
Again, good luck to all and hope to have some further matches against your team in seasons to come.