David wasn't aware of the complicated emotions swirling among Notts County's fans. At that moment, his mind was solely focused on his travels in the Netherlands. Even though he had heard about Toshack's criticisms of the club and Alonso, he couldn't afford to deal with them just yet. David was a man of action, someone who believed in retaliation when provoked—though it might be considered a negative trait, he felt it was an appropriate description of himself. Once he had the chance, he would deal with Toshack's comments, but for now, there were more pressing matters.
The transfer activity was in full swing, and David had been busy. He secured the signing of Dirk Kuyt from Utrecht for €1.2 million. Although Kuyt had recently broken into the first team, he wasn't indispensable, and Utrecht was willing to part with him for that price. Despite Kuyt's effort, his talent wasn't exceptional by David's standards, making the move a reasonable one.
David also brought in 17-year-old Wesley Sneijder from Ajax's youth camp for a €500,000 training fee, a move that was sure to be a smart investment for the future. Additionally, young Dutch defender Maarten de Roon was acquired from Vitesse for €300,000, further strengthening the squad.
David wasn't keen on overloading the team with Dutch players, though. He recalled that Dutch footballers often had a reputation for being difficult to unite, and with his plans to foster a stable team environment, too many Dutch players might be a challenge to manage. Despite this, the trip to the Netherlands was a success.
Next, it was time to head to Italy. David managed to secure a deal for the under-the-radar striker Antonio Di Natale from Serie B side Empoli for just €300,000. Di Natale, still a relatively unknown talent at this stage, showed promise despite his modest reputation.
David also strengthened his defensive options, purchasing Marcho from Vicenza for €1 million. Additionally, he took advantage of an opportunity to buy the talented left-back Gianluca Grosso from Serie C club Chieti for a mere €100,000, knowing that another club, Perugia, was likely to snap him up if he waited too long.
While David wasn't particularly inclined to sign older players, there was one exception: Dario Hubner. At 34 years old, Hubner had recently won the Serie A Golden Boot, a remarkable achievement for a player of his age. David recognized that while Hubner was nearing the end of his career, his goal-scoring ability could still be useful in the short term. Hubner's experience could also provide guidance to the younger attackers at Notts County, offering an invaluable mentor to the likes of Villa and Di Natale.
David's final stop in Italy was in search of defensive reinforcements. While he had already secured a few key signings, he still wanted to strengthen his defense further. This led him to Porto, where he attempted to sign the promising young center-back Ricardo Carvalho. David made a €4 million offer to Porto, but Carvalho himself didn't want to join a team in England's third division. However, David's persistence paid off, and Carvalho agreed to join Notts County on a loan deal.
It was Deco, the star playmaker from Porto, who proved to be the real challenge. After a €10 million offer from Notts County, Porto seemed willing to part with Deco, but there was one major hurdle: Deco, being Brazilian, didn't yet have a work permit to play in England. Without this, he couldn't legally play for Notts County.
David, not one to be deterred easily, struck a compromise. Deco would join Notts County on a two-year loan, with Porto covering his wages during this period. The deal worked out perfectly for both parties, as Deco could continue playing for Porto in the meantime, and after two seasons, he would qualify for a Portuguese passport. By then, Notts County hoped to be playing in the Premier League, at which point Deco could return to help the club in their bid for top-tier success.
This acquisition of Deco had David imagining the future—he pictured a midfield pairing of Alonso and Deco, two exceptional organizers controlling the flow of the game for Notts County. It seemed like the perfect setup, one that could elevate the team to new heights.
The last stop on David's whirlwind transfer tour was France. There, he secured the signing of a young Franck Ribéry from Ligue 2 side Boulogne for €80,000. At the time, Ribéry was just a promising talent, but David recognized his potential and knew it was a smart investment.
Within a matter of days, David had scoured the top footballing nations of Europe, bringing in a mix of emerging stars and seasoned professionals. While the journey had been grueling, David knew it would pay off. He had built a squad with a blend of youth and experience, one that could challenge for promotion and eventually for Premier League glory.
Back in England, two deals were handled without David's direct involvement. The club secured the services of Joleon Lescott from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £400,000 and goalkeeper Ben Foster from Stoke City for £600,000, further bolstering the squad.
By the time David's travels had concluded, Notts County's squad was stronger than ever, and the club was well on its way to achieving its ambitious goals. With a new sense of confidence, David turned his attention to the upcoming season, where he hoped to see his vision for the team come to life.
On the first day back at the club, David had planned to announce the team's new signings, one by one, to signal the beginning of a new era. However, before he could even settle in his office, the beautiful and poised secretary entered, bringing with her the latest news from the team.
As someone who had always been reserved in his past life, David was not accustomed to openly admiring beautiful women. In fact, he'd always been the kind of person to secretly glance at them, only to awkwardly look away if caught. Despite the changing circumstances, his instincts didn't quite shift. The secretary, a woman who exuded confidence and beauty, was someone he could never have imagined in his past life. He quickly grabbed a cup of coffee, attempting to hide his discomfort behind the mug.
But before his thoughts could wander too far, the secretary spoke, breaking the tension. "There are some key players who are asking for raises," she reported, her tone conveying both surprise and concern. "Some have even threatened to leave the club unless their demands are met."
David raised an eyebrow, not quite the reaction the secretary had expected. Instead of panic or hesitation, his voice carried a trace of amusement. "Really?" he asked, as though the news were almost too good to be true. "This is actually a blessing in disguise."
Last season, the first team had been made up of relatively unknown players, none of whom were familiar to David. These were players who, in his eyes, barely qualified for lower-tier leagues—certainly not part of his long-term plans for the club. There had been a nagging worry in David's mind about what to do with these players. Although they were not strong enough to push the team to the next level, they had contributed to the club in their own way. Kicking them out without a proper send-off seemed uncomfortable, even unfair.
But now, things were different. If these players were causing trouble by demanding raises or threatening to leave, David was prepared to let them go. "Let them go," David said, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Salary increase? Not a chance."
The secretary, visibly stunned by the coldness of his response, remained silent for a moment. She had expected him to try to negotiate, or at least show some willingness to keep the players on board. Instead, David's tone was resolute, even ruthless.
"Inform the first-team players they can start looking for new clubs," he continued, his voice firm. "We won't make it difficult for them on the transfer fee, but anyone who threatens us with a salary increase will find themselves playing in the reserves next season—if they're lucky."
David felt a surge of satisfaction at the thought of issuing such an order. His old self, the shy and timid younger brother, would have never dared to act with such decisiveness. Now, as the chairman, he relished the authority he held.
Meanwhile, the players who had received the club's directive were left in shock. The first-team squad, who had been struggling with the club's uncertain financial state and the recent news of the chairman mortgaging assets, had begun to relax when rumors spread that the club was about to make a significant investment. A high-priced signing from La Liga seemed to signal the start of a new era. The players, who had been anxiously waiting for any sign of progress, assumed that now was their time to demand more—after all, the club was clearly gearing up for the new season.
But David's actions shattered their expectations. Instead of a raise, they were being told to leave if they weren't happy with the club's terms. Some players, realizing that their demand for more money might not find an eager buyer, began to regret their bold stance. They had overestimated their market value, and now, they were paying the price.
Several of them, realizing they were in a precarious position, attempted to play their last cards by leaking information to the local media. They reached out to The Nottingham Post, hoping to rally the fans against David's harsh treatment. Their hope was that public pressure would force the chairman to reconsider and either raise their salaries or allow them to move to another club.
The news spread quickly. Notts County's internal turmoil became the talk of Nottingham. Rival fans, especially those of Nottingham Forest, reveled in the misfortune of their local rivals. The media painted a picture of chaos, suggesting that the club was on the brink of disaster. Many fans questioned the wisdom of David's decision. How could a team, stripped of its core players, hope to compete in the new season?
Notts County's first-team players were not without talent, at least within the context of the English League. They were capable of holding their own, and in previous seasons, the club had managed respectable finishes. But now, with a team of rookies and untested recruits, some wondered whether the club would even survive the upcoming season. The fans and media were quick to predict relegation, mocking the club for what they saw as a disastrous gamble.
David, however, was unfazed by the uproar. He knew that some of his decisions would be unpopular—particularly when it came to shaking up a team that had underperformed. But in his eyes, this was necessary for the long-term health of the club. If the squad was unwilling to rise to the occasion, then it was time to clear the dead weight and bring in fresh blood. Whether the new players and youth prospects would be enough to turn the team's fortunes around remained to be seen, but David was ready to stake his claim as the club's leader.
As the chapter closed, the question on everyone's mind remained: Was David's gamble genius, or would he and Notts County be heading for a swift and embarrassing fall? Only the new season would tell.
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GOT IT