Football Dynasty

Chapter 91: Airline Company, Is It a Good Idea?

With pre-season officially behind them, Manchester City had entered the final phase of preparations for the new campaign.

Typically, after pre-season, professional football clubs shift their focus to fine-tuning the squad, ensuring players are at peak fitness, and making any last-minute transfers before the opening fixtures.

Since City’s pre-season experiments were complete, O’Neill immediately met with Richard to discuss the weaknesses in his squad.

Inside the chairman’s office, Richards sat across from O’Neill, who had requested the meeting.

Richards adjusted the tablet in front of him and leaned back in his chair. "Alright, let’s get straight to it. Pre-season went well, didn’t it? So, what’s on your mind, Martin?"

O’Neill shook his head slightly. "Yes, the squad looks sharp, but there are still a few things to sort out before matchday."

Richards raised an eyebrow. "Another transfer?"

O’Neill nodded. "Like I said, there are some depth concerns. I initially had high hopes for Phelan as a midfield backup, but after watching his performances..." He let out a sigh and shook his head. "One injury, and we’re in serious trouble," he added.

To stay competitive and avoid unnecessary risks, O’Neill knew that City needed at least one more midfield signing before the season began.

At the moment, City’s defensive midfield position was a major concern. The original plan was for Mike Phelan and Ian Taylor to share the role, but after evaluating Phelan’s performances, O’Neill began to have second thoughts.

Tactically, City’s current system still reflected the rigid structure inherited from former manager Alan Ball. Many of the squad members were kind of limited-role players. SImply put they are only they excelled in one particular skill or position.

A player might be mediocre overall but excel in one standout ability, such as speed or passing, often at the expense of another crucial skill. For example, a player might lack physical strength but make up for it with exceptional tactical awareness.

Keith Curle, for instance, had decent passing ability that helped him build from the back, but as a centre-back, his positioning awareness was lacking in certain aspects. Now, with O’Neill expecting him to play as a defensive midfielder, it was clear that passing alone wouldn’t be enough.

For O’Neill, if Curle were to transition into the defensive midfield role as he hoped, he wouldn’t just need to passing and defend—he would also need a keen ability to read the game, especially when under pressure. Not to mention, he often struggled with positioning and was slow to find space when the centre-backs were looking for passing options.

He had good physicality and passing, but he lacked awareness and tactical intelligence. Phelan, on the other hand, was the opposite—he had excellent game-reading ability but lacked the necessary physical attributes.

The current hope to fill the position was Ian Taylor, but if he got injured or underperformed, the midfield would become highly vulnerable, especially when dealing with counterattacks.

The Second Division, the FA Cup, and the League Cup—three competitions, which meant they would end up playing around around sixty matches, if they went all the way to the finals, of course.

Richard thought for a moment before nodding. "So, it’s for another midfielder? Tell me, which one are you targeting?"

"A holding midfielder will do just fine," O’Neill said to John. "We can say that the current City squad already has an experienced center-back to lead the team, so finding a backup holding midfielder is still the priority now."

Richard looked at O’Neill with a concerned expression. "I’ll be honest, Martin. Finding the kind of player you’re asking for within our budget is going to be tough," he admitted.

Most lower-tier clubs still relied on the traditional 4-4-2 formation, with two central midfielders acting as the team’s generals. As for defensive midfielders, the best ones had already been snapped up by bigger clubs.

"No need to worry," O’Neill replied confidently. "I wouldn’t have brought this up if I hadn’t already prepared a solution."

He slid a piece of paper across the table, revealing a name that made Richard raise an eyebrow.

Ian Ferguson, 27 years old, midfielder, Rangers.

"27? He’s in his prime—his price will be steep, won’t it?" Richard asked instantly.

O’Neill shook his head. "I heard he’s been having issues with his playing time. He even got into a scuffle because of it. I suspect Advocaat will be looking to offload him quickly. The problem is, Ferguson just signed a five-year contract, and most of the offers are coming from Scottish clubs. I guess Rangers might be more willing to loan him to us rather than strengthen one of their rivals."

Richard leaned back, considering the idea. "You think he’d accept a move to us?"

"Yes. Let me handle convincing him to join City. What do you think?" O’Neill asked, watching Richard expectantly.

Richard studied O’Neill carefully. It seemed like this guy was really determined to bring Ferguson into the squad. He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he reviewed City’s current wage structure first.

"No need," Richard rejected O’Neill. Dealing and negotiation were not the manager’s. "Let John handle it. Right now, the most important thing for you is preparing the team for the opening fixtures and the press conference."

The British media might well be regarded as the most unreliable in all of Europe, if not the world, fabricating sensational stories to capture attention and prying into personal privacy with ease.

What status does football hold in the UK?

Which sport reigns supreme in popularity?

First is football, second is football, third is football.

Football and the media are deeply intertwined, with the power to shape a club’s legacy. The rise of the Busby Babes at Manchester United, for example, coincided with the expansion of football broadcasting into British homes, helping to establish the club’s massive fanbase.

Had a different team dominated during that era, the landscape of English football today might look entirely different. Newspapers (Times, The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, The Sun), television (BBC, ITV, Sky Sports), and radio (BBC Radio 5 Live) dominated the football narrative. It’s different from the modern 24/7 digital coverage.

When it came to club owners, they were generally less scrutinized unless they made headlines for bad decisions, like Peter Swales and Francis Lee, or if they were particularly high-profile. As long as you remained quiet and didn’t interfere much, the media wouldn’t attack you.

As for managers?

They commanded more respect, but the pressure was still immense.

Take Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United—the famous 1989 headline "Three Years of Excuses and It’s Still Crap" was brutal. But after United’s dominance from 1990 onward, the media respected him.

Kenny Dalglish, being a legendary player, received less criticism than others. George Graham had a divisive relationship with the press—some called his style "boring," while others respected his defensive structure.

Because this was O’Neill’s first official press conference, Richard, of course, attended.

In Britain, there are no prominent specialized sports publications; most outlets are general newspapers with a sports department. Thus, not every football-related event garners attention—only news that attracts readers and eyeballs draws the paparazzi’s interest.

Regrettably, major British newspapers, including The Times, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, and The Sun, had not dispatched a single reporter to cover the event. Manchester City’s first team simply lacked the appeal for these journalists.

Even City’s challenge against the "foreign player limit" had already lost its novelty, as other Premier League teams were also gearing up for the season.

Soon, the local press began asking questions. "What are Manchester City’s objectives for the upcoming season?"

"We are a youthful team, and many players still require competitive experience to flourish. Thus, our objective for the upcoming season is quite practical: promotion."

A handful of reporters exchanged puzzled glances before one incredulously asked,

"Manchester City just offloaded so many key players—are you sure you can achieve a good position in the league next season?"

O’Neill felt bitter about this, but he quickly composed himself. "Of course, as I said, we are a young team with great potential for growth. We have the opportunity to mature and become stronger. I believe that by the time we reach the Premier League, our squad will be in its prime, making City highly competitive."

Ah, when the reporters heard O’Neill mention the Premier League, they exhibited disinterest—City was not the first club to have such dreams. Forget about reaching the Premier League—could they even survive this season?

Perhaps that was the more fitting question.

The starkly quiet press conference evoked a twinge of sympathy among the journalists, prompting one of them to half-heartedly ask, "Could you share your thoughts on Roberto Carlos, Cafu, and Ronaldo? How..."

And so, the interview continued.

Seeing that O’Neill could handle it, Richard rose from his seat and left the training ground where the press conference was being held.

Because managing the issues at Rover and Manchester City had been overwhelming lately, Richard was completely drained. So when John booked a flight to Scotland, he decided to tag along, thinking it would be a much-needed vacation.

Since they were short on time, they hadn’t taken a commercial flight. Instead, they used a private jet. What surprised Richard was the name of the airline—EasyJet, a British multinational low-cost airline group.

Before boarding the plane, he made a call to Taylor Smith, his personal relationship manager at Barclays.

"I already contacted them," Smith replied. "They’re looking for financing to expand their fleet. They need to raise around £400 million, and twenty companies and venture capital firms are already competing. Why do you want to invest in them?"

Richard sighed. "Damn... I’m late."

If his financial situation were stable, he would consider it—much like Bayern which owns shares in Lufthansa, securing priority flights for the club.

"Should I get into the aviation industry? Would this be a smart move?" Richard mused.

If Manchester City eventually traveled frequently for domestic and international matches, owning an airline could significantly cut costs in the long run.

Instead of paying millions for chartered or commercial flights, the club could save $5M+ annually by having its own fleet. It would also provide full control over scheduling, comfort, and travel logistics.

Beyond cost savings, an airline could boost the club’s global presence, carrying its name worldwide. There was also revenue potential from commercial flights, not to mention the synergy with his other business ventures in tourism, real estate, and entertainment. It could be part of a larger strategic expansion.

Yet, despite the appeal, Richard quickly dismissed the idea. Right now, it simply wasn’t feasible.

Maybe in the future—when City was a regular in the Champions League or constantly touring internationally—it would make sense.

But for now? Hah!

Commercial flights were still the smartest and most flexible option.

When Richard and John arrived in Glasgow Airport, it marked Richard’s first visit to the country.

The moment they stepped off the plane, a fierce gust of Scotland’s infamous wind hit them like a blade, cutting straight through their coats. The sky was a dull gray, and the chill in the air felt even sharper than they had anticipated.

"Bloody hell, it’s freezing!" Richard muttered, pulling his coat tighter around himself.

He exhaled, watching his breath turn to mist. "I wasn’t expecting it to be this cold." Rubbing his hands together, he glanced around. "John, first stop—coffee!"

John chuckled. "Welcome to Scotland, mate."