Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Bolton, You See (5)
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Bolton conference room.
On the screen mounted to the wall.
[Alright, this is the Bolton first-team training center. I heard even Lee Chang-yong trained here back in the day.]
[This is the first-team locker room. It's empty now since all the players are on holiday, but it's nice and clean, right? The caretakers clean it every day. We put a lot of effort into virus care too.]
Thud, thud, thud.
Footsteps echoed clearly through the speakers.
Then, the suited-up Jeong-woo on screen walked down the hallway and entered the medical facility center.
The camera followed him from behind.
The narration continued.
[This is the facility where the medical doctor checks and treats the players' conditions. The first-team squad has seven team doctors in total. They're called Avengers here.]
They even used professional filming techniques like low angles and high angles when shooting the facilities.
Soon, the screen caught the chief team doctor.
He spotted the camera on hiMad Dog grinned.
[I love Korea!]
"Heh heh heh."
Jeong-woo, slouched crookedly in the executive chair as he watched the screen, wore a satisfied smile.
The first episode briefly introduced himself and the club's facilities.
It was a pre-recorded video, not live, but the response was better than expected.
The views had already hit 20,000 despite it being the debut.
He'd added Korean dubbing and English subtitles so anyone worldwide could watch.
Jeong-woo soon swiped his phone screen.
The shared screen in front straight ahead then displayed comments from various countries.
A good number were from Koreans.
- <BlueDragon>: Whoa, is this really Bolton Wanderers?
- <OxygenTank>: Is this guy seriously the club owner?
- <HumbaHumba>: I saw the article. He's the owner-manager of Bolton in the third tier...!
└ <NoGirlfriend>: Saw it too. Korean eccentric club owner, made the sports section. Bolton, huh... brings back memories. lololol
- : 12-year Wanderers fan here! Love this way of connecting with fans! And Owner Ma looks super cool in person!
There were more pitying reactions than admiration, though.
- <LifeIsALongRoad>: This isn't the Bolton I knew. It was sparkling when Lee Chang-yong played. Now it's all faded...
- <UijeongbuDumpling>: Clicked right away when it popped up in my algorithm. First Bolton news in 7 years. Third tier...? When did Bolton fall that far?
└ <KoreanSoccerFan>: A while back. And this is tame. Didn't hear they almost went bankrupt and drop to fifth tier?
Of course, there were the usual weirdos seeking attention.
- <ArmyVetHighSchoolGirlJeongwooOppa>: Hawawa... Jeongwoo-oppa finally appeared~
...A lunatic.
Anyway, some influencers would promote on Insta or Facebook and flex it, but Jeong-woo was different.
'I'm the survival type.'
So he'd show things as they were.
Jeong-woo soon set his phone down. The screen went dark.
"Well, every downhill has its uphill."
Positive thinking is key.
He then gave a gentle thumbs-up to Daniel Shai, the marketing manager back from holiday.
"Thanks to you, Marketing Manager. You promoted the YouTube channel hard on the official site. Even advised mentioning it on the radio shows."
"Hah, haha. Just doing my job."
Everyone in the conference room looked at him, and Shai blushed, scratching the back of his head.
But Jeong-woo wasn't just being polite.
'Definite improvement.'
He used to not even approach first, but this time Shai had come to him with promo ideas.
Maybe because of that.
Comments were still pouring in even though it'd only been a day since upload.
Views were skyrocketing too.
His lips twitched upward involuntarily.
Then he cleared his throat with a hem-hem!
"Anyway, we'll run that channel once a week."
That's why he hired a pro cameraman.
"The first shoot covered club facilities, but next we'll show daily life as is. Pre-recorded, of course. Edit in the good bits and upload. Don't mind the camera... just act natural, like usual. Think documentary."
That's how he explained the YouTube channel to the managers opposite him.
First, to bond with supporters. Second, publicize the club worldwide and boost its value.
"We'll also film home games, pull highlights, add narration, and upload. Bluntly put, this YouTube project will snag supporters globally. Through communication, emotion, raw league battles."
He wanted to build a sense of unity.
Anyone who's seen the Sunderland documentary gets it.
Even non-soccer fans end up buying a Sunderland kit online without knowing why.
Yeah! Sunderland till I die! they'd shout with themselves.
'This is one stone, two birds—no, three, four birds.'
Core goal unchanged: attract sponsors.
Of course, the conference room had cameras now.
He'd sent out Horichi, the reporter filming him since before season's end.
Important talk coming up.
Strictly confidential till execution.
"Alright, now the main point."
Jeong-woo eyed Richard Geers to his right, scooted closer to the table, and spoke.
"Preseason's coming soon. It's for checking player form, tactics. Testing chemistry with new signings."
He added that the current first-team squad of 19 needed reinforcements badly.
"As I told the press... I want Championship promotion this season. Player bolstering is essential."
The managers' faces flushed with varying excitement.
Daniel Shai clenched his fists under the table at knee level.
'Promotion...!'
Everyone here dreamed of it.
Of course, realists existed.
"Ahem! Championship promotion seems tough. Expectations too high...? Ahem!"
Office manager Donald Victor.
He tossed it out slyly then clammed up.
But no one could deny the truth.
PriMad Dog proper Emma glanced smiling at Jeong-woo and thought.
'With current squad, it's iffy.'
As Jeong-woo just said, Bolton's first team was only 19 players.
She knew Owen Pressais, Sensuous Ruff, star Pak shone in the second half.
But League One meant 46 league games alone.
Add cups, over 55 easily.
"No guarantee our stars play full 90 every game."
Another manager backed Victor.
Even Emma added softly.
"I agree we need signings, but excessive expectations could burden current players. Though last season's results surprised everyone."
Small comfort.
Just in case the owner felt slighted.
But Victor poured oil on it.
"As Strategy Planning Manager said... overdemanding results just tires players."
Victor went on with his view.
"Honestly, for Championship aim... simple signings won't cut it. Need individuals at £600k (9 billion KRW), or £1m (16 billion) plus. Like Wigan or Hull. Bet that's what Strategy Planning wanted to say. Ahem!"
Victor narrowed his brow, firing sharp facts.
"Our top values barely hit £400k (6 billion KRW)? I side with Strategy Planning there."
Dominic Shield speaking.
Other first-team values were pitifully low.
Eighth-tier unemployed Sensuous Ruff's second-half burst got him £20k (32 million KRW).
Zero to sudden spike.
Anyone long with Victor knew.
No malice.
Just coldly honest, straightforward.
Meanwhile, Emma gripped her slim fists on her knees.
Eyes straining hard, she screamed inwardly.
'I never said that! Don't use me as a shield!'
Victor beamed at her like, Nailed it?
"No, that's...!"
Emma started to clarify the misunderstanding.
"That's why I'm saying."
Jeong-woo cut in first.
His lips twitched, thrilled just imagining.
He eyed each puzzled manager.
"£1m (16 billion KRW)—no, £2m (32 billion) players... let's sign them."
Everyone's eyes widened.
Faces all screaming: How?
Jeong-woo grinned slyly to himself.
Time to dance the crazy sword dance.
* * *
Manchester City, player loans manager Francis Carson was buried at his desk, immobile.
"Peak busy season, huh."
Colleague Ruben Benjamin slyly set a coffee can on Carson's desk.
"Thanks, Ruben."
Carson thanked without looking up.
His busiest times: summer window, winter window, post-season preseason prep.
Peak for signings, sales, loans.
"So... where's Morgan off to?"
Ruben Benjamin asked slyly from behind.
Morgan Doyle: England's next-gen center-back prospect.
Ruben's type too.
"Morgan? Sunderland. Contracts sent, just needs signature."
"Oho, Sunderland. Promoted to Championship this season."
Ruben looked pleased inwardly.
"One-year loan?"
"Nah, six months."
"What, six?"
Dissatisfying.
For leveling up in a lower league, full year better?
Carson shook his head, understanding Ruben's gripe.
"You know Morgan. Prideful kid. Wants top-five-league level even on loan. So I hit him with facts."
"What'd you say?"
"Manager Pep doesn't let cocky rookies near first team. Wheedled him into six months consent."
Club-to-club loan approval doesn't mean it happens automatically.
Player consent needed.
Ruben quietly backed off, seeing Carson back to drafting loan contracts and checking incoming ones.
Some time later.
"Whew-!"
Francis Carson leaned back, exhaling long.
Dim fluorescent glared down.
Carson frowned slightly.
Right then.
Bzzzzt! Bzzzzt!
His phone vibrated on the desk corner.
Other staff long gone.
Carson picked it up, puzzled.
'Unknown number...?'
Agency guy or rival loan manager maybe.
Sometimes they dig up his number for direct loan requests.
Usually saved, though...
Carson shrugged doubt and hit call.
"Yes, got it."
The voice from the receiver startled him a bit.
[Nice to meet you. Bolton owner-manager Ma Jeong-woo.]
"Yes?"
Totally unexpected; a dumb noise escaped unwittingly.
Whatever, the guy plunged on shamelessly.
[Been trying to reach your owner or manager, but no numbers. Cheeky ask: could you pass mine along? Or set a meeting.]
"Why should I?"
[Heard you're close with Pep Guardiola.]
"So?"
Regaining wits, Carson narrowed eyes, countering.
Something off.
Rival owner calling him direct?
Voice too brazen.
But the reply blew his composure away again.
[Same Manchester base, same Man United foes... want alliance pact. Fuck Man U together.]
Have a great day~
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