Chapter 22-Chapter 23 Some money cannot be saved ()

The next day, Xiao Ming met all eleven scouts in the club. It is not very common for a low-level club to have so many scouts. However, many scouts in Leiden East are locals in the Walthamsto area. They are not full-time scouts, they are all part-time jobs. Sometimes when they run around, they help the team collect some intelligence. The income they earn in the club is relatively low. Most of the time, they only reimburse some car and horse fees. Rather than saying they are scouts, they are enthusiastic fans, because if they point to the income of being scouts, they will probably starve to death.

In fact, many low-level clubs do this because they cannot have the financial resources to support a formal and huge scouting system. Although the expenses on scouts are not very large, they cannot withstand many people. Not to mention that the world is so big, I don’t know how many professional, semi-professional and amateur teams there are, and a few scouts can’t even see a splash when they spill in. There are only so many good seedlings, and there are few people and even a hair can’t be grabbed.

In the later years, big clubs like Manchester United, in addition to having their own youth training camps all over the world, there were countless scouts scattered in the British Isles and even around the world. Although there were not so many first-team players, the good seedlings grabbed one more and couldn't use it themselves, and at least they couldn't let some competitors use it.

Leiden Oriental's scouts are not all amateurs. At least, the oldest Ronnie Gale is a very professional scout. There are many players in the youth team that he has discovered, including the young forward McGrady who performed very well after Xiao Ming took over.

Gail is fifty-four years old this year, but he is still in good spirits, his hair is just slightly white, and he looks full of energy.

"Gentlemen, I think I have to introduce myself... Xiao Ming, the new chairman of Leiden Oriental, has not met you since he took office, so I am not careful."

Xiao Ming smiled and said to the scouts that these words made the scouts think that the new chairman was not bad, almost the same as the former good-looking chairman Wood...

"I'm asking you to come today. In addition to getting to know you, I would like to ask you one more thing. In the next month, I hope everyone can collect more information, all the players we may buy. You think that there is only a little possibility, even if there is only a little possibility, I want all the information for these players. The more detailed the information, the better."

After Xiao Ming said this, the scouts began to discuss it one after another. The request made by Xiao Ming seemed to be too difficult. How many professional teams are there in England? Ninety-two! There are even a few semi-amateur and amateur teams. Xiao Ming is talking about the information of all the players he may buy, which is too big! You must know that even for super teams, some of their youth and reserve team members are good, but they just don’t have the chance to play. These teams are more willing to loan young players to low-level league teams to accumulate experience. Although their level is low, it is also a professional league. It is a good training opportunity for young players who are not mature enough.

Think about it, so many possibilities can be achieved by these ten scouts? What a joke!

"Everyone, calm down." Xiao Ming, who had thoughts, coughed: "I am not asking everyone to do this soon. It's only May. There are still two months left before the transfer market opens. We have enough time to inspect even after the transfer market opens. I just hope that everyone can run more everywhere during this period and examine the players that may be used for us... Of course, it will not make everyone run in vain. In addition to the full reimbursement of travel expenses, the club will also offer you a salary of 200 pounds a week, and increase or decrease according to performance in the future, so that everyone will become the club's official scouts. From this season, Leiden East will have huge changes. Everyone's work will no longer be free, but will become the club's official employees."

After these words, the scouts discussed more enthusiastically. After all, there would be no income for Leiden East before, and the club did not force them to find any good seedlings. Now Xiao Ming's words are obviously to formalize the scout's job. As a formal employee of the club, the minimum salary stipulated in the UK is about three pounds per hour and about one hundred and fifty pounds a week. The price offered by Xiao Ming is quite good. After all, the job of scout is not very tiring, it is just about running around.

Xiao Ming struck while the iron was hot and said: "And everyone doesn't need to always return to Walthamstowe to report. Just send a letter or fax to the club every week. In the future, the club will divide the areas responsible for each scout. During the gap between scouting, everyone can continue their current work, which is not a conflict."

After careful consideration, the scouts agreed to the conditions offered by Xiao Ming. After all, they are now inspecting in their spare time. After signing a contract with the club, they can also use their spare time to find players they like. At most, they are just a little busy during the season handover period. They can't do much more things than they do now and have a stable income to get. Only fools will disagree.

When the scouts divided their respective areas of responsibility, they left the club office building. The club accountant Alan Kauffet, who had been standing behind Xiao Ming, said: "Chairman, this may be a bit inappropriate today... We used these scouts before, but the expenses were very small, but today you signed a formal scout contract with them, which means that for a scout, we have to spend 10,000 pounds a year on one scout, and 11 people are 110,000 pounds. This will account for a large part of our annual income."

Xiao Ming smiled and looked at the accountant. Alan Coft was a club accountant who stayed in the old Wood era. He had excellent financial capabilities and managed the entire club in an orderly manner. After Xiao Ming took over, the club had no debts. In addition to Old Wood's desperate support, his accounting management ability also played a great role.

"You are right, Alan." Xiao Ming replied with a smile: "But as a club, some expenses cannot be saved... What is the cornerstone of a club? Apart from fans, there are players. Without players, football clubs cannot be established. They are the club's greatest wealth. Where do players come from? Spend money to buy? But we are just a small club, and it is unrealistic to spend a lot of money to buy stars, so it is impossible to attract those outstanding players when they are young to maximize their efficiency. Now I offer a formal contract for these scouts, which seems to be a loss, but as long as they can dig up a few free and practical players, I will save a lot of money to buy players, and I can still transfer them to cash out. How much can the club make? Some money cannot be saved."

After patting the thoughtful Kafter's shoulder, Xiao Ming said, "By the way, please call Hilton and say that I want to treat him to dinner tonight, and it's at Sun Ji Chinese Restaurant."

Peter Hilton sat in a private room at Sun Ji Chinese Restaurant. He did not drink, but was thinking about something.

It was just a coincidence that he came to Leiden East to play football. After the end of the World Cup in 1990, he originally planned to retire. After all, he was 41 years old at that time. However, Leiden East's chairman, Old Wood, had a very good personal relationship with him. Leiden East, who had just been promoted to the English League Two, lacked a good goalkeeper, so he invited him to Leiden East to play football. In this case, Hilton became the main goalkeeper of Leiden East. At that time, his free transfer to Leiden East also caused a sensation in the UK. After all, it was news that the national team's legendary goalkeeper had committed to the English League Two team. This kick took four years.

Hilton was originally a very ambitious player. After his debut in Leicester City, he always served as a substitute for Banks. After the 1966 World Cup, he proposed to the club that either let me play the main player or let me go. At that time, the Leicester City club chose Hilton. However, eight years later, Hilton, who could not stand playing for a second-rate team, chose to leave. After spending three years at Stoke City, he came to Nottingham Forest, where he reached the peak of his club career, two Champions League titles and one Premier League title. After Nottingham Forest began to decline, Hilton chose to leave again. Wimbledon and Coventry were his last two stops before 90 years, but he never reached the peak he had reached in Nottingham Forest.

From these experiences, we can see that Hilton is not a person who is willing to be lonely, but that is limited to when he was young. At the age of 35, he resolutely transferred from Wimbledon to Coventry, but at the age of 45, he no longer wanted to fight for anything.

This new chairman is not as easy to talk to as Old Wood. What do he want to say when he asks him out today? There is no need for a forty-five-year-old man in the club? If that is the case, then forget it. Anyway, his contract is signed once a year. Since there are younger goalkeepers to replace him, then leave football. It is enough to be able to easily play four years in Leiden East.

Just as Hilton was thinking about his own thoughts, the door of the private room was pushed open.

Xiao Ming, who was about 20 years younger than him, walked in with a relaxed smile on his face.

"Before eating, I want to trouble you with something." Xiao Ming said to Hilton with a smile, then he took out a notebook and a pen from his side and placed it in front of Hilton: "Please sign a name for me, I am your fan!"

Hilton was stunned. Could it be that Xiao Ming asked him today to get an autograph? No way.

Seeing Hilton signing, Xiao Ming laughed and said happily: "I have always wanted an autograph, but I'm still a little embarrassed in the team."

Hilton nodded to express his understanding. After all, Xiao Ming is the chairman, and it is a bit unreasonable for the chairman to ask the player for autographs.

"This is just an additional one." Xiao Ming put away his signature and then curled his smile: "I asked you out today. The most important thing is to discuss the contract with you."

Hilton looked at Xiao Ming, and Xiao Ming continued to say to himself: "Your contract with the club will expire after the end of this season. My idea is that if you don't plan to retire, I hope to renew your contract for one year until the end of next season. The treatment will remain unchanged. I don't know what you think."

Hilton was stunned for a moment. He was already ready to retire, but since Xiao Ming proposed to renew his contract for another year, he really moved him - he didn't want to leave the Green Field just like that.

After looking through the contract that Xiao Ming handed over, it was exactly the same as what Xiao Ming said. Hilton nodded: "No problem, since the team needs me, I will play for another year."

After saying this, Hilton felt much more relaxed. He thought that this was what he wanted to talk about, but Xiao Ming continued: "Also, I hope that after a season, if you want to retire, you can enter the club's management... The club's transfer department has always lacked a capable staff. Now I can serve some things, but after all, I can't focus entirely on this, I need someone to help."

"Why choose me?" Hilton asked in surprise. He was a complete novice in this regard.

"Haha." Xiao Ming smiled: "Of course there is my reason. First, your reputation in English football is very high. In the future, Leiden Oriental will not be satisfied with working in the English League Two. I hope to return to the English League Two next year, go to the English League One the year after that, or even the Premier League... If you want to do this, it is not enough to have money alone. I also need players. I can be responsible for making money. In terms of players, Leiden Oriental is not that attractive. With you working in the club, Leiden Oriental will increase the attractiveness a lot, because you are the most successful England goalkeeper in the past thirty years. Many young players regard you as their idol. Even in the next season, the reason for 'playing side by side with Hilton' may add a lot of weight to the transfer market."

Xiao Ming said it very bluntly and very simplely, but Hilton heard something from his words - does this young man have such ambitions? Next season, Leiden Oriental will play in the UK and C, but he is considering the matter of the UK and B and B.A. or even the Premier League? Where did he get such strong self-confidence?

However, Hilton does not deny that this proposal is very attractive. A player has many choices after retirement. Whether it is a coach or a TV station commentary, it is a good job. However, it is not easy to enter a club to serve as a senior manager, unless the club's iconic player naturally enters the management after retirement. This situation is very rare among English players, and Hilton knows his own affairs. Although he has achieved glory in many clubs, he often makes a lot of unpleasant things when leaving these clubs. Otherwise, with his fame, he might have worked in a Premier League or English League One club.

But now, Xiao Ming put this proposal directly in front of him.

"I have to admit that this proposal is very tempting." Hilton shrugged and made up his mind: "Well, I promise this proposal. After next season, I will fade out of the arena and start a new attempt."

"That's great." Xiao Ming extended his hand to Hilton: "I hope we will cooperate happily in the future... No, not hope, we will cooperate happily."
Chapter completed!