prefer the Total Clube Manager games by EA Sports. In the latest edition (2005), I got Brighton promoted to the Premiership. But I haven't got the patience to play managerial games for too long.
Then you picked the right game. Total Club Manager I found incredibly easy and basic. Not much of a challenge. Still not as easy as the Premier Manager 97 game. Winning the Premiership with Lincoln city in season 4 was pushing the boundaries of ridiculous.