NOVPUB
Chapter 81: The Squad is Ready
There was a strange tension among the players. It stemmed from their new owner who seemed to be the busiest yet remained almost entirely out of sight.
Usually, when new owners like Swales or Lee come in, they’ll meet with the players, introduce themselves, and start developing relationships with the team. But Richard was different. He kept to himself, and that only made the players more uneasy, unsure of what to expect from him.
This change was creating a lot of uncertainty within the squad.
Of course, they had seen him briefly after everything that happened, with all the meetings between staff and other employees.
However, it still felt very unusual to them, as they had been used to the approaches of Swales and Lee, who tried to reach out to them, creating a positive atmosphere and fostering a strong team culture. Not to mention the expectations—they knew a meeting had to happen.
"And they’ve warned us not to let any internal drama leak, or else there’ll be consequences," Mark Robins, the current striker for Manchester City, said to his agent.
"Is he really planning to release players?" his agent then asked.
"Based on how anxious Coach Alan is, it’s probably true," Robins replied.
Naturally, news of a release list was enough to put everyone on edge. Everyone knew about the double relegation they’d experienced in the past two seasons. For many, transferring to another team was unlikely, and even if they did manage to move, they’d undoubtedly earn less than they did now.
At first, they dismissed it as a rumor.
But when the coach and staff started holding one-on-one meetings with players, it quickly became apparent that the rumors were true.
Players are perceptive. They soon realized they were independently compiling release lists. This strained atmosphere made it impossible to focus on training.
The team captain, Keith Curle, was particularly displeased with the situation. Above all, he was concerned about the team’s performance after this.
’Triple relegation? The new chairman is only making the situation worse,’ he thought. "How many are they planning to cut? It’s not like we have anyone lined up to replace them. The squad’s already stretched thin—how are we supposed to handle the season?"
"Ugh, this is chaos. Sure, it’s funny to see them scared of being released, but still..."
At that moment, a player with an easygoing grin approached him. It was Shaun Goater, the City striker.
"Keith, any information to share?" Goater asked.
"How’s the situation in the dressing room?" Keith replied.
Goater shrugged. "Bad. Everyone is on edge."
"Pathetic, isn’t it? If they were so worried about being released, they should’ve worked on their skills earlier. Instead, they’re just whining about it now. No wonder we got relegated twice."
"How about you? Worried you’ll get released?" Goater teased.
"Me?" Keith curled his lips. "I never get worried about that. I just know how to play football."
The next day, or three days after Richard’s instructions about the draft list, he had a meeting with John and Miss Heysen, all while the club was still in subtle chaos
"How’s the mood?"
"Utter chaos. The team’s practically boiling over."
As Miss Heysen reported helplessly, Richard shrugged off his suit and draped it over a chair before sitting down.
"Sounds like they’re doing their job well," Richard said, almost cheerfully.
Sigh "They’re drafting the release list properly, which is why the team’s in an uproar. The ones who deserve to be cut are always the loudest."
"Oh, Miss Heysen, it seems you know quite a lot, huh?"
Miss Heysen shut her mouth instantly.
"Hahaha, don’t worry, Miss Heysen. I won’t force you to spill anything. Sooner or later, we all have to face the hard truth, no matter what," Richard said.
"..."
"The players who know they aren’t good enough to avoid the list will stay quiet and observant. So, the louder it gets, the better."
John Maddock, who heard this, shook his head. ’Usually, when Swales and Lee had problems, they just dumped it on me or the manager. I’ve never heard of the chairman stepping in to intervene like this. Is it all about asserting control over the club?"
Richard clicked his tongue, pausing for a moment before speaking. "Asserting control? Let me ask you this: What do you think is the biggest risk for this club?"
In his heart, he couldn’t help but criticize John. This guy constantly questioned his decisions, even over the smallest matters.
It was starting to wear on him, making he seriously consider finding a new general manager. Oh—no, not a general manager. That term was outdated. What he really meant was a CEO.
’Still, now wasn’t the time. Replacing a CEO wasn’t like hiring a new coach or scouting a new player. It required careful planning, months—maybe even a year—to find the right candidate.’ Richard pondered it carefully.
The right CEO could shape the club’s future for the next decade, and Richard wasn’t about to make a rash decision. For now, John would stay. But in the back of his mind, the clock had already started ticking.
John paused for a second, considering Richard’s question before answering decisively. "At this point? Poor finances, a thin squad—"
"Stop, stop it!" Richard quickly raised his hand to cut him off. Then he emphasized repeatedly, "It’s the culture. You know? Culture!"
Richard let the words sink in for a moment before continuing. "When a club has a problem with its culture, you’re done for. It takes decades to build it from scratch, and you can say it’s almost impossible without a complete overhaul." Richard paused slightly, then added an example. "What if the players band together and stage a mutiny or start underperforming out of defiance?"
Miss Heysen and John’s eyes widened in realization.
"Player revolts happen more often than you think. Even at massive clubs like Real Madrid, conflicts between managers and players have led to declines in performance."
"That’s..." John trailed off, shocked by the revelation.
"Why do you think City dropped twice in a row under Alan Ball?" Richard let the words hang in the air, giving everyone a moment to digest. He continued, "Just because a player is skilled or famous doesn’t mean they’re a good fit for the system. Their reputation, their skills, their personalities—all these issues become more common in disorganized clubs like City."
The room fell silent.
"Everything will hit a wall—tactics, reforms, even changes to the fine system. If discontent brews among the players and they move as a group, nothing will work."
John, still surprised, asked, "Why do you know so much?"
’The question, of course, once again...’ Richard could only smile bitterly.
With examples like the Glazers at Manchester United, Juventus under Thiago Motta, and so much mismanagement in football, how could he not? But he couldn’t share that with them—at least, never.
"Alright, enough with this topic. Where’s the draft?" Richard asked, his tone shifting as he turned to John.
John nodded and, handed the draft over to Richard, allowing him to examine it carefully.
Richard scanned the pages, his eyes darting over the names and notes on the list. He didn’t speak immediately, his face unreadable as he took in the details.
John stood quietly, waiting for Richard’s reaction, while Miss Heysen observed the scene with a mix of curiosity and anticipation.
Finally, after a long pause, Richard let out a low sigh, still holding the draft in his hands.
"Twelve players," he said quietly, glancing at the list.
The plan is simple. Every coach, every staff member will write down the names of players they believe should go. But here’s the catch—each of them will naturally target players from the opposite factions.
Simply put, they’ll focus on players they don’t get along with, or those who pose a threat to their own position. They’ll think they’re getting rid of the players they don’t like, but when the factions clash, the players who don’t belong on the list will simply... vanish from the discussion.
The players listed are precisely the ones who need to go. They are the ones most likely to cause a disturbance.
If anyone were to question his decision, he could simply state—legitimately—that it was based on a thorough evaluation: their salaries versus contributions, their compatibility with the team’s style, and even their relationships with other players. Every factor had been meticulously considered, leading to the most logical conclusion.
He didn’t want any scenario where, when O’Neill arrived, the players would sabotage things and make the situation even worse.
After all, who can guarantee?
Take Manchester United, for example. Do you think after multiple manager changes, things just magically got better?
No, they didn’t. The constant changes only compounded the problems, creating more instability and confusion.
The instability at United, the power struggles, the internal divisions—it was a case study in how bad things could get when mismanaged, when a failed system was created, and when a bad culture took hold. It wasn’t just the failure of one manager or another; it was the failure of the entire structure.
Players started pulling the strings behind the scenes, and that led to chaos. He couldn’t let that happen at City. Not under his reign.
Richard glanced over at the draft one last time, before giving a sharp command: "Put all these players here under the loan and transfer list immediately. Accept whatever offers come in."
John blinked in surprise. "You’re not going to release them?"
Richard clicked his tongue. "Given our financial situation, what else would you expect?"
The other party eyes then narrowed as realization dawned. ’So, you’re toying with them.’
"Understood." John stood up, his mind already processing the next steps. He turned and walked out of the room, leaving Richard and Miss Heysen alone.
Once the door closed, Richard picked up a pen and a piece of paper—those who were left untouched by the internal chaos, those who still had value in the squad.
GK: Tony Coton, Nicky Weaver
DF: Richard Edghill, Tony Vaughan, Nick Fenton, Richard Jobson, Keith Curle
MF: Jamie Pollock, Jeff Whitley, Keith Gillespie, Graham Fenton, Steve Lomas, Paul Lake
FW: Paul Dickov, Shaun Goater
A total of 15 players.
Add with the upcoming player
GK: Shay Given (loan from Blackburn)
DF: Sol Campbell, Ian Cox, Roberto Carlos, Cafu
MF: Ian Taylor (loan), Tony Grant (loan), Mike Phelan
FW: Emile Heskey (loan), Ronaldo
A total of 25 players.
Manchester City is ready.
