Soriano was still processing the incredible proposition he had just received. The idea that the young man sitting next to him on the plane was the chairman of a professional football club in England seemed almost too improbable. He had heard of Notts County, of course, being the oldest professional club in England, but he never imagined that he would be invited to become its CEO.
"Are you really the chairman of Notts County?" Soriano asked, still incredulous.
David simply shrugged and flashed a confident smile. "If I'm not, then I'm doing a really good job faking it."
The truth of the situation began to dawn on Soriano. The invitation to join Notts County wasn't a joke. David wasn't playing around. He was sincere, and there was something attractive about the opportunity. Notts County was not a Premier League powerhouse—yet—but David's vision and plans were ambitious, and Soriano could see the potential.
"You want to invite me to be the CEO of Notts County? Why?" Soriano asked, his expression still a mix of disbelief and curiosity.
David leaned in slightly, his tone sincere. "It's simple. Notts County doesn't have a CEO yet. Most of the club's work is on my shoulders, and I'm getting a bit tired of juggling everything. After talking with you, I think you'd be a great fit. I need someone to develop the team's business, manage the day-to-day operations, and help me realize the club's vision."
Soriano, who had come from a solid financial background, was cautious. He had a stable job with good prospects in Spain, but football was his true passion. Could he leave his current life behind to join a club in England? It was a huge decision.
"Are you sure you're not kidding?" Soriano asked, still unsure.
David chuckled, shaking his head. "No joke. When we get to the U.S., you can sign the contract and get started right away."
Soriano was taken aback. Despite the lure of football, this wasn't a decision to be made lightly. He had a great job with a bright future at the airline, but football was his true calling. He wanted to be involved in football on a deeper level, and this could be the chance he'd been waiting for.
David didn't rush him, understanding that such a big decision required careful thought. Soriano asked plenty of questions about Notts County, the club's current status, its financial health, and the vision David had for the future. David answered each one candidly, detailing the plans for Notts County's rise, from stadium construction to a stronger presence in the Premier League.
Though Soriano was drawn to the opportunity, he decided to take some time to think it over and discuss it with his family back in Spain. He wanted their input before making such a life-altering decision. David wasn't in a hurry. He understood that making the right choice took time, and he felt confident that Soriano's interest had been piqued.
When the plane landed, Soriano and David parted ways, exchanging contact information. David felt certain that Soriano was already hooked, and the invitation to become CEO of Notts County would soon become a reality. As he boarded the next phase of his journey, David couldn't help but think of the ripple effect his offer might have. Barcelona and Manchester City might be losing one of their most capable leaders, but David was gaining someone who could help propel Notts County to new heights.
Meanwhile, David's focus shifted back to the U.S. stock market, where he was about to make a significant fortune. September 11 had caused turmoil in the market, with the Dow Jones Index plunging by over 14% in the days following the attacks. David had positioned himself well, using high leverage to capitalize on the market's downturn. Within a week, he had amassed nearly £1 billion, a staggering amount of wealth.
For David, it was both exhilarating and surreal. He had always been someone who was content with just enough, but now, with nearly a billion pounds at his disposal, he didn't know what to do with it. Money seemed almost too easy to come by now. But this wasn't just about wealth; it was about creating a legacy for Notts County and ensuring that his vision would be realized.
Back in England, David's plans for Notts County were moving forward. The youth training camp was already underway, and now the next phase of development—the construction of a new stadium and training base—could officially begin. David had grand ideas for a state-of-the-art facility, inspired by the famous St. George's Park in England, but he quickly realized that such extravagance wasn't practical for a club of Notts County's size.
Instead, he decided to create a more modest yet still impressive training base, one that would be admired around the world for its facilities and medical resources but not wasteful in scale. He estimated that it wouldn't cost more than £80 million to build the new training base, a sum that was well within reach given his newfound wealth.
David eagerly awaited Soriano's response. He knew that with the right leadership, Notts County could rise to the top, and Soriano was the key to making that vision a reality. For now, though, David was content to focus on the broader picture, from the team's development to the growth of the club as a whole. The future was bright, and with Soriano in place, it would only get brighter.
Upon returning to England from the United States, David received a call from Soriano. As he had anticipated, Soriano agreed to take the position of CEO at Notts County. After wrapping up his work commitments in Spain, Soriano would bring his family to England within two weeks to officially begin his role.
David was elated by the news. Finding a competent CEO in such an era was no easy task, and Soriano, a rising star with a financial background, was a perfect fit. David knew he had secured a strong leader for the club's operations, someone capable of helping him realize his ambitious plans for Notts County.
David quickly informed Soriano that there were two major projects waiting for him: the construction of the team's new training base and stadium. David intended to give Soriano full control over the operational aspects of the club, offering only initial guidance during the early stages of each project.
While David was busy with these plans, Notts County was performing impressively on the field. During his time in the U.S., the team secured two more victories in the Premier League, defeating Blackpool and Wigan Athletic. These wins stretched Notts County's unbeaten streak to seven games, propelling them to second place in the standings, just two points behind Brighton at the top.
However, it was Brighton, the surprising newcomers, that were attracting the most attention. Despite only losing to Notts County, they had won all their other matches, cementing their place as a formidable force in the league. Notts County, on the other hand, wasn't too concerned. With their solid form and tactical growth, David was confident that, barring any major injuries, Notts County would close the gap and regain the top spot soon.
As the league progressed, David's focus shifted to the cup competitions. The draw for the third round of the League Cup paired Notts County against Premier League side Blackburn Rovers. Though Blackburn had recently been promoted, they were still considered a tough opponent, having won the Premier League just six years ago. Despite their pedigree, David wasn't discouraged. He knew that Blackburn might not prioritize the League Cup, given their focus on Premier League survival.
Before the cup match, Notts County had three league games to play, the first of which was against Cardiff. David rotated the squad, giving the starting lineup mostly to substitutes. Cardiff, assuming Notts County was fielding a weakened side, expected an easy victory. However, David knew that even his bench players were future stars, capable of playing at a high level.
The match against Cardiff was intense. Notts County dominated possession, peppering the Cardiff goal with shots. However, Cardiff's defense and goalkeeper kept them at bay, blocking and saving numerous attempts. By halftime, Notts County had taken 21 shots, but none had found the back of the net. David couldn't help but marvel at Cardiff's goalkeeper, who seemed to possess superhuman reflexes, preventing several shots that seemed destined for goal.
Despite making attacking adjustments in the second half, including bringing Mertesacker forward as a target man, Notts County couldn't break Cardiff's defense. In stoppage time, Altintop had a shot that narrowly missed the post, and the game ended in a 0-0 draw. It was a frustrating result, as the players had dominated the game but couldn't convert their chances.
David and Luff, the manager, reassured the players, reminding them that a draw was not the end of the world. However, the inability to break down Cardiff's defensive setup highlighted a crucial area for improvement: Notts County needed to develop strategies to overcome teams that set up defensively against them.
With the draw, Notts County lost their second-place spot in the standings to Mansfield, who had also won their match. Despite their strong form, Notts County was slipping down the table, now in third place. The gap between Notts County and the top was widening, though it was still early in the season.
Meanwhile, Gino Pozzo, a prominent figure in the football world, remarked on Mansfield's growing prospects. He believed that Mansfield, not Notts County, would be the team to eventually rise to the Premier League, possibly even as champions. Pozzo thought that while Notts County's recent streak was impressive, it was clear that other teams were beginning to figure them out.
The match against Cardiff had shown that teams could nullify Notts County's attack by stifling their passing game. As Pozzo pointed out, once opponents became familiar with Notts County's style, they could easily counter it. The question was whether David and his team could adapt and evolve quickly enough to stay ahead of the competition.
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GOT IT