Serious Help needed

I need serious advice...and fast! 


Warning - this is an eeexxxtttrrraaaa long entry, settle in and get comfortable.


I found out today that the Marketing Manager position that I was promised by the MD last year September has now been offered to someone else.
I am flabbergasted!!!
I was employed as a PA and fell into the Marketing aspect purely by chance.


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One day I looked at our Quarterly brochure that comes out and it was so boring I kind of pulled a face which my boss - the Sales Director - saw. He asked my opinion and I told him it was boring. He offered me a chance to give a few suggestions at the next marketing meeting and after that the Equipment catalogue was given to me to design and I have been doing it for about a year now. I told our CEO that I wanted to ultimately end up in Marketing, he had a word with the MD and the MD said that I must just be patient and come Aug/Sept I will be promoted because the current Marketing Manager will be retiring. I have worked after hours on the catalogues, I have planned events that have been extremely successful resulting in increased sales of our launched products and I am complimented all the time on my marketing abilities. So I waited patiently and promised myself through all these hard times that soon I will be promoted and doing what I love.


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Today my boss tells me that 1 of our sales reps has been offered the position. 
Some background history: 

• This rep has been there about a year - I have been there for 2 years 
• She has no experience in marketing, I have been doing catalogues and events for a year
• I am 31, she is 26

When I addressed it with the MD, he backtracked and mmhhhed and aahed and then tried to say he had said he would consider me for the position.
This is all bull as he told me on 2 seperate occassions to be patient and he told me that I would have to learn the consumable side of the business and the current lady could give me training but not while I was a PA, we would have to wait until the time was right and find my boss a replacement PA.


My boss spoke to me and said I need to state my case and tell them I want an increase in my salary if I cant have the managerial position. The MD siad he would look at it because I am doing a brilliant job on the equipment catalogues and the event planning and I am the best PA my boss has ever had and they can't afford to let me go as PA.


Driving home I realised that was all just a way to placate me and try make me back down by playing on my sense of loyalty to my boss.


I have to present my case on Monday and I am actually not happy that I was promised then overlooked.
I was not even given the opportunity to apply for the position or state my reasons for wanting the position - what do they think I have been working my butt off for for the last year?
I dont get paid overtime and I have done all this work because it was all in preparation for when I took over as manager.
If they increase my salary but keep my function the same then all that allows them to do is increase my work load and when I crack from the stress they can say: See, she would never have cracked it as a manager.


And why let them get away with giving my position to somebody else? This is my future we are talking about. I want the Marketing position - I dont want any other position in the company. So if she gets the position, she is young - I will not have a chance to grow and I might as well start looking for another job.
A manager is a better position and will look good on my cv rather than a PA who helped out in Marketing, that is too vague and doesnt reflect what I truly did.
Problem to consider: The job was not advertised internally, but they can always advertise the position and make a show of interviewing me to do the right thing, but stick to her and promote her. There are 3 directors and my director would lose against the other 2 as the MD has already made up his mind and the 3rd director goes with whatever the MD decides.
But how can they now give me the position when they have also promised her - then they are in the same boat with her being upset and sitting in the position I am in now.


I could suggest that they split the position into 2 managerial positions - Equipment and Consumable, that way her and I could work in conjunction together. But it would mean an extra salary for the company which I doubt they will go for.


This has been an extremely tough week and I have said to my friends that I am not sure I can last in the company for another 6 months as I do not enjoy being a PA anymore. It was a great challenge to move from running an optometry practise for 9 years to becoming an executive PA to a sales director. I now know I am more than capable and I have found my true niche - design and event planning.


I did some praying and decided that I needed to make a big change in my life in order to be happy again.
Concurrently my lease is about to expire and I really dont enjoy loving where I do (that is a long story I wont even bore you with - but trust me, I may sound like a miserable and unhappy girl -but I really am not that bad!)
I asked to extend the lease a further 6 months and the landlord disagreed saying they wanted a 1 year lease.
I was about to back down but said no. They have now agreed to a 6 month lease - which is all just as well, who knows whether I will still be at the same company in 6 months time, perhaps I might have to find another job and might have to move.


I believe that everything happens for a reason and perhaps this has happened to either make me realise that I need to fight for what I want and have more faith in my abilities and my worth to the company or that it is time to move on.


If I do not get this position then I will bide my time for another 6 months so that I can get my 13th cheque at the end of the year and then I will move on.
Being a PA has been soul destroying lately and I am on the verge of a breakdown, this has made it so sclear to me that I need to go after what I want and keep pushing until I get there.


But what is your opinion please: Do I demand the position or do I take a salary increase and remain a PA or do I suggest a dual manager position?