Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Bolton, You See (6)
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Francis Carson ended the call.
Even after that, he stared intently at the phone number displayed on his screen for a while.
‘Who the hell is this guy...?’
It was a completely unexpected caller.
Honestly, he even doubted whether the person he’d just spoken to was really Bolton’s owner.
‘Has the owner ever contacted me directly?’
No matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn’t recall a single instance.
The people who usually reached out to him were loan or transfer coordinators.
Occasionally, a desperate manager looking to sign someone would call, but this was a first.
‘Sure, he’s friends with Pep.’
Francis Carson had built a rapport with Pep Guardiola dating back to his playing days at Barcelona.
Even after Pep became a manager, Carson had shadowed him like a ghost.
From Barcelona to Bayern Munich, and now Manchester City.
“Hmm.”
Francis Carson furrowed his brow slightly.
“Bolton’s owner, huh.”
It was rare, but every now and then, someone would dig up his number and prank call him.
“Even if it is the real Bolton owner, we have no loan plans.”
Manchester City’s loan system was limited to the Championship at minimum.
There was no need to send players down to League One.
In the view of experts like Francis Carson, City’s reserves were already top-tier even in League One.
The trophies they’d won together in cup competitions said it all.
Any partnership agreement would be pointless.
Unless Bolton climbed up to the Championship stage.
“For now...”
Still, Carson felt he should report it, furrowing his brow slightly.
Pep would probably agree.
* * *
The next day.
Francis Carson was on his way to the club, having picked up donuts and coffee from his usual café early in the morning.
Before gripping the steering wheel again, he took a sip of coffee and reached out to tune the radio.
Soon, DJ Robert from his favorite channel, ‘Soccer Love,’ greeted him.
[This is DJ Robert! The weather’s clearer than expected today. Though clouds will pile up by afternoon.]
“Yes! Right on time.”
He’d tuned in just as it started, and Carson was pleased.
He took another sip of coffee and pressed the accelerator.
The car passed through Moreton.
Along the way, Carson bobbed his body slightly to the music flowing from the radio.
It wasn’t long after that.
[We have a special guest today. Introducing Ma Jeong-woo, the Bolton owner who sensationally emerged in the 2020-2021 season in Greater Manchester!]
“...”
That was the moment Carson’s eyes narrowed to slits.
‘Bolton... owner...?’
A bolt from the blue appearance.
[Hello, I’m Bolton owner Ma Jeong-woo.]
[In the Bolton area, you’re loved by most of the Wanderers.]
[Well, yeah. Though some still aren’t thrilled I’m pulling double duty as owner and manager. Of course, I respect their views.]
Carson was convinced by the voice on the radio.
‘It’s the same as yesterday’s call.’
Any doubts about it being fake vanished.
Instead, Carson listened more intently.
He was curious why this guy was on air and what he planned to say.
Soccer Love was a radio channel friendly to Greater Manchester, especially Manchester City.
Accordingly, the DJ tossed out a few City-related questions.
[As the owner of a club based in the same Greater Manchester, I’m curious. Who do you think is the king of Greater Manchester?]
It was a question that could potentially offend.
After all, wasn’t the owner the leader of their team?
But this Bolton owner didn’t seem fazed at all.
[The king of Greater Manchester is Manchester City. That’s an unchanging rule.]
[How can you be so sure?]
It was a retort, but Carson, familiar with the DJ’s voice over the years, could tell.
He was subtly pleased.
And the follow-up answer even made Carson chuckle.
[I knew for sure in the 2011-2012 season final match, when City came back against QPR. Exactly at 93 minutes and 20 seconds... in a 2-2 draw, Sergio Agüero scored that dramatic winner.]
That goal had knocked Manchester United off the top and secured City’s comeback title in the final game.
[A precious victory after exactly 44 years. Yeah, that’s when the ownership of Greater Manchester changed. I guarantee it.]
The praise for City continued endlessly.
The more Carson listened to Ma Jeong-woo, the more impressed he was.
Bolton’s owner knew City’s history better than expected.
[City, starting from a small church in 1880, grew to what it is today because...]
[City soared with the canals. Faster growth than Liverpool, thanks to the canals and the passion of the Citizens!]
[Alex Ferguson once criticized City as a noisy neighbor backed by Middle Eastern money... but honestly, capital is essential to fight with pride. And now, look—Greater Manchester is painted blue.]
That wasn’t all.
He relentlessly trashed the local rivals, Manchester United.
[Manchester United’s history is fading with time. The legacy built by Bobby Charlton and George Best long ago is losing its color.]
[After Alex Ferguson, they’ve hired countless managers... but did they ever give them a real chance?]
[Ole Gunnar Solskjær probably thinks he’s a great manager. Despite several crises, United stuck by him. They call it loyalty to roots and team legends... whatever. To me, it looks like stubborn nepotism. Bluntly put, he lacks the talent. He’s just squandering what Sir Ferguson built.]
At this point, the DJ asked in a skeptical tone, half-joking.
[Be honest, Ma. Do you want something from Manchester City?]
Carson perked up his ears even more.
And Ma Jeong-woo, without hesitation as before, replied over the radio.
[Separate from admiring City, I’d like to form a partnership with them.]
[A partnership?]
The DJ sounded shocked, raising his voice in surprise.
By then, Carson’s car had pulled into the club parking lot, but he didn’t turn off the engine or get out.
He just focused on Ma Jeong-woo’s next words.
The owner-manager was surprisingly eloquent.
His voice alone had a captivating pull.
[What we at Bolton want is to support City through mutual cooperation and collaboration.]
Suddenly, Carson grew curious.
‘Support them how?’
This owner had just declared Bolton would support City.
Ma Jeong-woo continued calmly.
[We’ll develop City’s prospects into talents ready for first-team action.]
[That’s a controversial statement. Bolton’s at League One level...!]
[Even among League One teams, we’re underdogs. So, there’s no better club for gaining experience.]
[Why is that?]
[Coldly speaking, our squad depth is low, making competition easier. That means I can guarantee City’s youngsters more playing time.]
He went further.
There were over 15 objectively stronger teams than Bolton in League One.
Matches against them would provide plenty of valuable experience.
He was confident.
[I’m a manager who’s reached the level to develop them. You’d know if you saw last season’s results. Plus, I specialize in minimizing weaknesses and maximizing strengths.]
First-time listeners might dismiss it as boasting.
But unlike yesterday, Carson had some insight.
Thanks to an acquaintance who was a Wanderer.
And what they’d briefly shared over the phone the day before.
The manager leading northwest Bolton had impressive tactical acumen and man-management skills.
In closing, Ma Jeong-woo said.
[I know City doesn’t loan youngsters to Championship or below. That’s why we’re offering support. Talents without senior-level physicality, or those the youth system can’t progress further but keep failing loans—we’ll elevate them to Championship level or higher.]
It felt like the interviewer and interviewee roles had flipped.
“This owner’s got quite the silver tongue.”
Carson chuckled as he listened. Then came the DJ’s playful question.
[City better call soon, huh? Haha! But honestly, Bolton’s based in Manchester too—why City over United? Do you really think they’re the kings?]
[Pfft, well, United seemed like an easier target?]
“Pfft!”
Carson spat out his coffee mid-sip, staring at the radio speaker in disbelief.
This guy really didn’t hold back.
* * *
After wrapping up the Greater Manchester radio show and local Bolton interviews, on the way home.
“Aren’t you going a bit overboard?”
Park Hee-won asked cautiously from behind the wheel.
Ma Jeong-woo, slouched sideways in the passenger seat, tilted his head slightly.
“With what?”
“We should be begging for loans, but you came off way too cocky.”
In Park Hee-won’s view, Ma Jeong-woo had brazenly demanded a partnership and loans.
Trashing Manchester United in the process was icing on the cake.
Glancing over, Park Hee-won eyed the nonchalant Ma Jeong-woo and thought.
‘You’re gonna get rocks thrown at you, man. Wait, no—shot, more like?’
That felt more realistic.
Gun ownership was legal in the UK.
And a few hours later.
Manchester United-related community sites were in chaos.
Red Devils were uniformly cursing Ma Jeong-woo.
Extreme supporters even called to storm Bolton and drag him out.
He’d ripped into United mercilessly on the radio.
He’d even thrown out a wide taunt.
[Honestly, United’s a team even we at Bolton could challenge.]
Having watched Ma Jeong-woo for so long, that moment made him seem truly insane.
Then.
“It’s all going according to plan.”
“Getting hate?”
“Well, that’s part of the plan too.”
Now Park Hee-won looked at him like he was some freak.
‘This guy... lost it?’
Meanwhile, Ma Jeong-woo grinned and said.
“Better to ally with one of Greater Manchester’s two giants than make enemies of both.”
“There’s also the option of not antagonizing either...”
“No, that’d be a waste. Partnering with one lets us reap big benefits.”
Ma Jeong-woo figured.
The most efficient way to acquire promising players below desired level was through affiliate loans.
So the day before, he’d contacted Bolton’s key staff via Richard Geers.
Of course, he didn’t expect them to agree outright.
It was an appeal.
Letting them know ‘I’ exist.
The radio appearance served the same purpose.
And he hoped for more.
“Loans via partnership deals are cheaper acquisitions than standard ones, as a bonus.”
He stuck to the strategy of targeting City’s most hated rival to win favor.
“Better to fully lean on one side than straddle both ambiguously.”
It wasn’t just about favor.
“This catches two—or three—rabbits at once.”
Park Hee-won stopped at a red light and gawked at him incredulously.
Ma Jeong-woo had propped his chin on one hand.
“You little... pulling that brooding intense act again?”
Ignoring it, Ma Jeong-woo continued.
“Even if a loan’s approved, it’s not over. If the player refuses, it’s all for nothing.”
For a club Bolton’s size, rejection was highly likely.
“That’s why we show them.”
“Show what?”
“That we’re a team worth considering. To City’s staff and future loanees, transfers to us.”
Right on cue, his phone rang.
Caller: Executive Director, Richard Geers.
Ma Jeong-woo thought it was coming and hit accept.
Soon, Geers spoke from the other end.
[Manchester United has approved the friendly match.]
After two rejections... yeah, sometimes you gotta lob a brick to get a reaction.
Have a wonderful day~