Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: 2022-2023 Season, Championship (8)
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Unlike the EPL, the valuation and assets of clubs in the leagues below it varied wildly.
The difference was clear right from the stands.
Some teams had stadiums with 30,000 or even 40,000 seats, while others made do with modest 8,000-seat venues.
Naturally, that led to massive gaps in matchday revenue.
"And that's not all."
Jeong-woo muttered as he slouched on the sofa, narrowing his eyes.
"Starting from the English Championship, player wages jump through the roof."
Back in League One, Bolton had slashed salaries across the board through Jeong-woo's massive rebuild.
Even after periodic renewals, the squad's average weekly wage hovered around 2,000 pounds (KRW 3.2 million).
That was slightly below the League One average.
But now that they'd been promoted to the English Championship, they couldn't keep wages at that level forever.
"If I just said, 'We're sticking with current wages!' do you think many players would stay?"
No matter how strong the team bond, this was pro soccer in the end.
Players had to prove themselves on the pitch, and clubs had to reward that proof to keep the relationship going.
"Renewals are a kind of vision, too."
Jeong-woo smirked and shrugged.
"Honestly, it's like that in most industries, not just soccer. Getting swayed by emotions makes you a sucker."
Which was why raising salaries across the squad was unavoidable.
The day before, Jeong-woo had seen it in the report from Executive Director Richard Geers.
"The 2021-2022 season... English Championship average annual salary was about 700,000 pounds (KRW 1.1 billion)."
Meaning individual weekly wages easily topped 10,000 pounds (KRW 16 million).
That was high even compared to most European league teams.
"Well, probably a few aces in certain teams skewing the average way up."
Even so, it was incomparable to League One.
Geers had provided more details.
Neighboring Wigan Athletic, who came up with them, had set their first-team minimum weekly wage at 4,000 pounds (KRW 6.41 million).
Their top earner, Rahim Strong, had just signed a big deal for 25,000 pounds (KRW 40 million).
"EPL level? Did their owner change or something?"
Jeong-woo muttered with a hint of envy.
But no one was around to hear.
Under the yellow stand lights, the office held only Jeong-woo.
He was just mulling things over to himself.
Jeong-woo narrowed his eyes again.
"Anyway... so Owen and I renewed at 10,000 pounds a week (KRW 16 million)."
With this deal, Owen stood tall as the team's highest-paid player.
Of course, compared to Sunderland or Wigan's stars, it was chump change.
"But what can you do? We're short on cash."
It was the best Bolton could offer.
Honestly, after saving up over the past year or so, Jeong-woo thought they had a decent pile.
But promotion hit, and it felt like scaling yet another towering peak.
Club value had risen with Championship promotion, but this league was crawling with rich owners leagues above League One.
In that sense, Manchester United's meddling had been a real stroke of luck.
"It gave us an excuse that we couldn't sign players as we wanted."
So Jeong-woo had early on given up chasing two rabbits at once.
Focus on one, then use leftovers for adds.
Of course, reality bit hard.
"Damn it."
He'd thought they had plenty of transfer budget, but nope—reality stabbed deeper.
Player renewals and staff contracts had bled money.
"No, investments."
Even calling them investments, it still stung.
A twinge of regret crept in.
What if he'd delayed some debt payoff and prioritized signings?
* * *
Starting with Owen, Bolton Wanderers entered renewal talks with the entire first-team squad in sequence.
Most players were thrilled with Bolton's initial offers.
Captain David Dignity was no exception.
"Oh...?"
Dignity's eyes went wide as he and his agent reviewed the documents from player contracts manager Aaron Mings.
He even counted the zeros with his finger before his lips split into a grin.
'5,000 pounds (KRW 8.02 million)...?!'
More than double his previous wage.
Dignity shot up from his seat.
Flinch!
Mings startled at the sudden move.
Dignity's glare locked on him like he was furious.
"W-Why? Not satisfied?"
When Mings asked cautiously, Dignity bowed at a perfect 90 degrees out of nowhere.
"Thank you!"
Korean-style bow, courtesy of Jeong-woo and Hee-won.
Days later, it was ace Park's turn.
"Wow...!"
Park had come to the training ground for personal work, run into Mings, and taken the papers.
Crouching on the natural turf, he could only gape.
Previously, his renewal had netted 2,000 pounds a week (KRW 3.2 million).
Now, blinking repeatedly, he checked the new figure.
No agent, so he handled negotiations himself.
Park's jaw dropped.
[8,000 pounds (KRW 12.73 million)]
Several times higher.
Another day passed, and Mings sought out Emmanuel Adebayor directly.
His agent was back in Togo briefly, so Mings planned to email.
But Adebayor invited him home instead.
And trapped him.
Sizzle—!
"Good stuff, hey bro! Dig in—Korean BBQ!"
Adebayor grilled pork neck and belly in his backyard, then shoved a tongful into Mings' mouth.
"N-No, I... m-mmph!"
"Chew well and swallow."
He grinned contentedly.
"Heh heh. Was getting bored grilling alone."
The "water" glass he handed with a smile? Soju.
Only after a good while could Mings finally offer the contract.
"Gulp! H-Here."
"Hope it's not some bullshit deal."
Adebayor snatched it from the tipsy Mings.
Soon, his lips curled up.
"Not even a one-plus-one. Straight two years."
Plus a 30% raise.
* * *
[Owen Doyle! Agrees to 4-year Bolton Wanderers renewal! 10,000 pounds weekly (KRW 16 million)!]
[League One's Sonic! Prodigy Park! 8,000 pounds (KRW 12.73 million) for 4-year renewal!]
[39-year-old veteran Emmanuel Adebayor! 2-year renewal! The second Zlatan now?]
Local fans and Korean supporters alike rejoiced at the news.
- <LifeIsSoccer> : Yeah, that's it! Keep the core locked down!
- <JisongPark> : Had to hold onto Owen and Park no matter what. They're Bolton's top two attacking contributors.
- <OwensTwoFeet> : Securing Park and Owen alone gives us Championship competitiveness. Agree?
- <ImYourDad> : Expecting super joker Adebayor to play his role this Championship too.
- <SgtKang> : Go go gooo! Bolton! Back to the EPL go go go!
Player signings lagging behind promoted rivals Wigan and Hull City was a shame.
But no one blamed Bolton.
They turned their ire on Manchester United instead.
- <Mangu> : Solskjaer called overlapping players with Bolton 'pure coincidence,' but nobody's buying it? Solskjaer's just a cheap bastard.
- <ManguStick> : Without Man U, we'd have snagged those top talents ages ago. Sigh!
- <Wanderers> : It's fine. Holding the current squad like this is impressive enough, BoltOOOn!
* * *
Of course, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was furious.
"What the hell...!"
Unbelievable news to him.
Transfer fees were already insane, and wages dwarfed Bolton's offers.
Yet both players chose to stay.
"You fucking @#$!!"
The tablet screen showed grinning Manager Ma front and center.
Curses flew from his mouth.
His eyes bloodshot in an instant.
The mobile article headline taunted Solskjaer right above Manager Ma's smile.
[Our boys say no to Man U. Weak team.]
* * *
Time flew.
Bolton renewed with Chicken President too.
Last time it was a one-year short-term deal. Not this time.
[Bolton! 3-year sponsorship with Chicken President! Annual 2 million pounds (KRW 3.2 billion)!]
Over three times the one-year rate.
And three years as main sponsor.
Chest-top emblem stays put.
Chicken President had no need to deliberate.
Quite the opposite.
Promotion meant way more broadcast exposure than League One.
Even Korean TV stations bought Bolton broadcast rights.
Plus, Chicken President had safely planted roots in England via Bolton before.
* * *
Time passed; preseason arrived.
Unlike last season, Bolton scheduled friendlies against lower-tier Third Division sides.
Jeong-woo used them to check tactics and player form.
* * *
August 1.
Swindon—relegated to Fourth then back to Third—vs. Bolton Wanderers.
Second half, 87th minute.
Thwack—!
[GOOOOOOAL—!]
Commentators leaped up, shouting.
Park took the ball on the left flank, feigned a slow advance, then suddenly lofted it long and exploded forward.
Ooooh—! Ooooh—!
Away Wanderers fans rose as one, voices swelling.
One burst from Park shook a marker in a flash.
In under a second, he was in the box with the ball.
Thud—!
The keeper charged out in panic.
Hesitate—!
But he barely took two steps before freezing.
Thud—!
Park hit the area and slotted a ground pass through the gap.
Splash—!
Adebayor timed his run from the other side, nudging it home with his right instep.
Yeeeeeeeeees—!
Anticipating fans erupted in perfect sync, thunderous roars shaking the stands.
Commentators spammed "unbelievable."
[Bolton Wanderers! Wrap up preseason with 5-0 thrashing of Swindon in the fifth friendly!]
[Three-goal-plus wins in the previous four too for BOLTOOON!]
[Unbelievable results! This team has outgrown League One! Escaped promotion and fully shed it!]
Commentators looked ahead.
[Ten days from now, Bolton faces Fulham in the Championship opener!]
[Can Bolton bring this form against Fulham? Stay tuned!]