Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Bolton Wanderers Here (3)
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Black-Haired Tactical Genius
League Round 19 was just a day away, so Jeong-woo gave the players a break.
It was a measure to prevent burnout.
He spent the morning and afternoon checking in on every corner of the club.
Come evening, he returned to his office, plopped down in the camping chair, and dumped water into the pot.
To his left sat Executive Director Richard Geers.
Just like Jeong-woo, he was hunkered down in a camping chair as he spoke.
“According to the player liaison’s report, the team dynamics haven’t shifted much over the past month. Except for Emmanuel Adebayor emerging as the team leader.”
Jeong-woo nodded slightly.
‘Adebayor, huh.’
No surprise there—the guy had an aura all his own, and he’d already carved out his spot.
“Not even starting in the league, and he’s still pulling this off. Impressive.”
Jeong-woo let out a small sigh of admiration, but his expression turned serious as he asked,
“How many ramen packs?”
Geers flashed his signature beaming smile.
“Three should do it.”
“And eggs?”
“Two. Keep the yolks runny—soft-boiled.”
“Oh, you get it.”
Before long, Richard Geers had fallen hook, line, and sinker for the charm of pot ramen.
“I’ll throw in some green onions.”
“A beautiful combo.”
Jeong-woo dumped in the noodles with a determined look.
Through the player liaison, he got the scoop on locker room vibes, evaluations of the coach, and more.
Even who’d clashed with whom or who was on awkward terms.
Jeong-woo pieced it all together, smoothing things out via one-on-ones or targeted training to mend fences.
“Park’s goal bonus is just two strikes away now.”
“Damn, our Park’s on fire.”
“Starting in January, the Chicken President sponsorship kicks in full swing, so we’ll embroider their logo on the top of the uniforms.”
The home, away, and third kits for the second half were already done.
They’d teased them on the official homepage, but opinions were split, as expected.
Couldn’t blame folks—a chicken head grinning right in the chest center.
Geers went on, covering the team’s broader updates.
Like how some youth player had tweaked a groin muscle.
Or how a promising youth kid who’d torn his ACL and been sidelined was back on the training pitch after rehab.
The first-half budget spending was pretty positive.
“First-half expenditures came in about 1 million pounds—roughly 1.6 billion won—over the League One average.”
The reason for the heavy spending this season was straightforward.
They’d added Ma merch plushies to the lineup, signed high-salary stars like Adebayor.
Plus massive costs for the food corner, campsite, and other facility upgrades.
But Jeong-woo had no regrets.
That 1 million pounds investment had generated even more revenue.
Nutuber was one prime example.
‘Come to think of it, Nutuber’s raking in the most cash.’
No wonder it was such a cutthroat market.
With profits like that, everyone and their dog was jumping in.
Either way, Jeong-woo had scraped together every penny he could, paying off about 100 million won of the 1.5 trillion won debt pile.
Richard Geers touched on it too.
“It’s not all cleared, but it’s a solid positive signal.”
“Damn right. Feels like a weight off my chest. Monthly interest is down a bit too. Though yeah, it left me broke again.”
“But we’re not starting from zero anymore.”
Fair point.
Now they had Nutuber, the campsite, Ma merch.
Food corner too.
Money was flowing in from all sides.
Sure, even after chipping away at it, 1.4 trillion won in debt loomed large.
Objectively, it wasn’t much dent in that astronomical sum.
But soccer circles worked differently.
‘Reputation shifts first and foremost.’
That’s why he’d worked the media angle through Geers.
[ Bolton Wanderers! Partial Debt Forgiveness of 6.3 Million Pounds (100 Billion Won)! ]
[ Bolton Wanderers, Once on the Brink of Bankruptcy, Finally Catching a Break! ]
[ Bolton Owner-Manager Ma! Stellar Business Moves and Results Bring Happiness to Wanderers Lately! ]
Like one outlet said, Bolton had teetered on bankruptcy’s edge.
Wage delays for players, the works—they’d hit rock bottom.
Nearly relegated to the fifth tier.
Wiping that broke image? Best way was debt payoff news.
The public reaction to those articles said it all.
- : Whoa, Bolton... are they actually turning it around?
- : Feels like yesterday I read about them pulling amateur players ‘cause the first team was short.
- : Definitely feels alive since the owner and manager switched. Still polarized, sure... but fight on!
- : Kinda heartbreaking, right? Other clubs splash cash left and right, but ours... owner doubles as manager.
- : Heard he eats and sleeps in the office not ‘cause he’s buried in work, but to save money?
- : BS. He’d have sold if that was it. Ma really loves Bolton!
That last comment stung a bit.
‘It’s ‘cause I gotta hold out for top dollar...’
Still, it planted the seed: Bolton as a steadily improving, solid club.
Even bank relations were warming up, boosting value bit by bit.
Talk about a world of difference.
Jeong-woo gazed at Geers, pride swelling from seeing his efforts pay off.
‘Ah, crap. Why’re my eyes stinging?’
He squeezed his eyes shut, then opened theMad Dog said,
“Let’s eat the ramen first, then talk.”
Cold ramen’s no good.
December 27—here’s the League One top standings:
[[1st] Hull City: 18 Matches, 15W-3D-0L, 48 Points]
[[2nd] Plymouth Argyle: 18 Matches, 15W-1D-2L, 46 Points]
[[3rd] Bolton Wanderers: 18 Matches, 14W-2D-2L, 44 Points]
[[4th] Portsmouth: 18 Matches, 13W-2D-3L, 41 Points]
[[5th] Fleetwood: 18 Matches, 13W-1D-4L, 40 Points]
[[6th] Wigan Athletic: 18 Matches, 12W-3D-3L, 39 Points]
[[7th] Gillingham: 18 Matches, 11W-3D-4L, 36 Points]
Bolton Wanderers stood out as the upset kings every round.
After those 2 draws and 2 losses, they’d ridden a win streak.
Player stats dominated even the League One individual leaderboards.
“Owen’s got 12 goals in 15 games, ranking 2nd in scoring.”
Jeong-woo sipped the sikye Hee-won had brought as dessert and replied.
“Owen’s got cannons for feet.”
Every shot he took was on target—unnaturally so.
Geers tried the sikye too, then continued.
“League One scoring 4th is our golden boy Park with 9 goals already.”
Jeong-woo’s lips twitched upward.
“His form’s really stepped up.”
Decision-making had been an issue since signing.
But now, Park ranked 2nd on the team for goals—via one-touch instep shots alone.
4th league-wide.
Jeong-woo muttered, brow furrowed.
“Adebayor’s special training must’ve worked wonders. Looks like a lone wolf, but he sticks to teaching doggedly.”
True story.
Adebayor was the type to hover and drill until it clicked.
Park’s goals in five straight games proved it.
Less hesitation on shots too.
“Owen’s through balls are killers too.”
Owen might just be Bolton’s real treasure.
The numbers backed it.
Geers added about Owen.
“Owen Doyle’s 4th in assists too.”
15 appearances out of 18 games, 8 assists.
Jeong-woo crushed the empty paper cup, lost in thought.
‘If Owen had the physicals and mobility, he could’ve made it in the EPL.’
He wondered just how far Owen could’ve gone without the injury.
‘Not perfect, though.’
Elite attack stats, but defense near zero.
‘Modern soccer demands some defensive base from every position.’
That’s why Jeong-woo played to Owen’s strengths.
Then Geers added, tone dipping.
“A few Championship clubs quietly approached Owen’s agent. One was Sunderland.”
Jeong-woo’s eyebrow twitched irritably.
* * *
A few days from now, January hits.
Winter transfer window opens.
Critical juncture for Bolton Wanderers.
They needed defensive reinforcements to minimize goals conceded the rest of the way.
But also the riskiest time.
No telling when rivals might poach a key player.
“Seven thousand pounds—that’s 11 million won! Seven grand!”
Owen Doyle’s eyes widened in the cafeteria.
Across from him sat his agent, mid-40s Michelle Wright.
Beaming, he kept going.
“Sure, you’re young, more offers’ll come. But think it over. Bolton’s 3rd, yeah, but no guarantee it lasts. Squad’s smaller than Hull or Plymouth’s too.”
Wright wanted Owen transferred.
Simple reason.
Commission, wages, league level—all superior to Bolton.
Especially the offering club.
Owen was stunned too.
‘Championship offer...!’
England’s Championship, a step above League One.
The familiar stage he’d roamed pre-injury.
His current wage: 3,000 pounds (4.82 million won).
Upped via pre-season extension.
But Wright said,
“Sunderland’s offer is over double your current pay. Add win bonuses and extras, it’s nearly triple.”
A pro’s worth boiled down to salary and transfer fee.
Owen felt the temptation creep in.
The sidelined squad player was ancient history.
But he couldn’t commit right away.
Back then, he’d have jumped without hesitation.
‘I...’
Owen wondered.
“What about Bolton? What do they say?”
If the agent got approached, the club must’ve too, right?
Wright hesitated, then shook his head.
“They came to me first. Wanted your take.”
“I see.”
Owen nodded faintly.
One question lingered.
Would Bolton let him go for the right fee?
And the first person on his mind: Ma Jeong-woo.
The mentor who’d pulled him from the mire.
That’s when it hit.
“What’s with the heavy face? Doesn’t suit you.”
Owen flinched and turned toward the voice.
His expression brightened a touch.
Michelle Wright’s, meanwhile, soured.
From the cafeteria entrance, Jeong-woo ambled over in rumpled suit, grinning.
He slid into the table’s center seat and asked,
“So, decided yet?”