After spending the night feeling uneasy and missing Shania, Twain finally received his first piece of good news the next morning.
Des Walker called him to say that he agreed to join the England team as an assistant manager.
Twain was so excited that he clenched his fist on the other end of the phone.
The assistant competition was settled, and the rest was simple. Among the candidates recommended by the English Football Association, there were outstanding fitness coaches and ordinary coaches who were familiar with the English players. Now he just had to find a goalkeeper coach, and the coaching team would be formed. Twain did not trust England's goalkeeper coach. England had not produced a good goalkeeper for many years, and this was obviously related to their lack of a good goalkeeper coach.
Twain had his sights set on Germany and Italy as the goalkeeper coach. Perhaps he could look for the former goalkeeper coach of the England national team, the Italian Tank Neri who came and left with Capello.
However, this was obviously not as urgent as finding an assistant manager.
※ ※ ※
While Twain was worrying about his own coaching team, Nottingham Forest was also undergoing a huge change.
Martin O 'Neill wanted to preserve Nottingham Forest's Treble winning team as much as possible, and then sell the unimportant players and add in some more outstanding players. The team's goal was still to compete for the title.
Evan had already expressed to him that the money to buy players was not a problem. Nottingham Forest did not have the debt of that stadium weighing on them, and they still had plenty of funds at their disposal.
Tony Twain had never enjoyed the treatment of O 'Neill before.
He thought about it for a few days and finally gave the list to Evan Doughty. Evan, who was holding the list, was shaking his head at his good friend Allan, "Martin thinks he can completely control this team. I really don't know if he overestimated himself or underestimated Tony. "
"What's wrong?"
"The players that were sold are the team's substitutes or veterans. Basically, the main structure of the team has not changed. "Evan gave the list to Allan.
Allan looked at it and laughed, "He's just thinking from a coach's point of view. For a team to have results, of course, they have to try their best to use those players who have already proven their ability. "
"If the locker room is in chaos, a team with a champion's team is useless." Evan snorted.
After Tang En left Forest, Evan breathed a sigh of relief even though he did not bombard the club in the media. However, the players clearly did not believe that Tang En had left the team because he had too little money. There were quite a number of Tang En's people in the team, and their agents were moving around. Evan knew what this meant. With their backbone gone, it would be a wonder if they could keep those people. Otherwise, why would he have asked O 'Neal to draw up this list? Instead of letting your agent contact the team and then inform me, it's better for me to take the initiative. That way, I can minimize the loss.
"Tiago?" Allan looked at the name on the list and then looked up at the ceiling, trying to match the name with the faces on the team. "That Portuguese? Even if he didn't change coaches, he should have left, right? He's too old. "
"That's why I said O 'Neal is still thinking of using the team Tony left behind."
The two looked at each other and smiled.
Allan looked down at the list again. Compared with a player like Tiago, there was only one person he cared about the most. No matter what, that person could not be sold at a discount. On this point, he and Tang En had a common ground.
"What's the situation with George?"
Nottingham Forest only had one George. Evan knew who Allan was asking.
"I don't know." He shook his head. "Mr. Woox has not contacted me."
There was a sudden silence in the office. They all knew what kind of person Woox was. Tang En could go against Woox because there was something wrong with his brain. The two of them still did not want to offend this old man who had great power in the upper class of British society. Although his sexual orientation was not normal, it was not a scandal among the upper class of British gentlemen.
"He doesn't lack money." Allan muttered to himself, as if he was explaining the matter, but also as if he was comforting himself.
"He doesn't lack money, but George does."
"I don't think we should doubt George's loyalty …"
"Here's the problem, Allan." Evan got up from his chair, walked to the office desk and sat down. "Is George loyal to the club, or … Tony Twain?"
Allan looked up and opened his mouth to look at his old friend. He was stunned for a moment before he said, "He went to the England team. This shouldn't affect anything … At least we don't have to worry about him going to Manchester United and then coming back to poach us."
Evan did not know if his worry was right, so he did not say anything.
"I think it's best to give George a new contract soon and increase his weekly salary. Although his contract still has three years left, we have to fight to keep him in the Forest team until he retires. "
Evan looked at Allan who said this. "We only signed a new contract with him last season … And he's now close to the highest salary in the team." Allan was sensitive when it came to spending money.
"Then give him the highest weekly salary in the Premier League!" Evan decided.
Allan opened his mouth but did not say anything.
※ ※ ※
Wood looked at the old man sitting in front of him, his agent Billy Woox who rarely showed his face.
"What do you think, George?"
Wood shook his head. "I'm not going."
"They've promised you the highest annual salary and the best bonuses."
"I have enough money."
"That is a powerhouse club that is many times stronger than Nottingham Forest. Compared to them, Forest is simply a country team." Woox said with a smile, not taking Wood's cold attitude to heart.
"Do they have more European champions than us?" Wood asked.
This question caused the smile on Woox's face to disappear for a few seconds. When it returned, it had turned into laughter. "Haha! Good question, George! If it was in front of Laporta, you would have angered that Catalan half to death … Haha, I didn't expect you to learn to be sarcastic. "
Wood did not react to Woox's laughter. He continued to speak with a cold face, "I'm not going anywhere other than Nottingham Forest."
"Real Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Manchester United, Arsenal … You won't even consider the calls from those teams?"
Wood nodded. "I still have a three-year contract with the team. Before that, I'm not going anywhere."
Woox smiled. "You'll be thirty-one in three years. It'll be hard for you to go anywhere."
"That's even better, I'll retire from the Forest team."
"Hey, George. That guy Tony is no longer here. You don't have to continue to guard this club. Do you know? It won't be long before all of you teammates who have lifted the Champions League trophy together go your separate ways. The manager you're familiar with is gone. The teammates you're familiar with are also gone. What's the need for this team to continue? "
Wood was silent for a moment. He seemed to be digesting Woox's words. Then he said, "Professional players always come and go. I can't decide this. They have their reasons and power, but I don't want to leave here. "
Woox leaned back against the sofa and stared at the stubborn player with a different gaze. "I'm really curious. Why are you doing this? Is it your mother? "
"It has nothing to do with my mother. It's my own decision."
"Why?"
Wood was silent for a longer time this time. Woox did not rush him. He put some sugar in the coffee in front of him and stirred it gently with a small spoon.
Just as he was concentrating on the coffee, Wood's voice rang out. "I don't want to be like that man."
Woox stopped what he was doing. He narrowed his eyes and stared at the coffee as if there was something in the coffee.
His mind only wandered for a few seconds. When he came back to his senses, he took out his mobile phone and began to dial a number.
"Hi, Santy. I have some absolute insider information here. Are you interested? Okay, okay … "Woox nodded." I'll pass it to you. But not now … Me? I'm having coffee with George. The coffee here isn't very good. I'll never come here again … Okay, okay. You do what you need to do. Goodbye. "
Woox put away the phone and looked at Wood. Wood was looking at him with a questioning gaze.
"Call a friend in the media. Tell him there are a lot of clubs interested in you. Real Madrid, Barcelona, the Milan duo, Juventus … and England's traditional top four. As long as it's a team with a little bit of reputation in European football, list them all. "
Wood was anxious. He leaned forward as if he wanted to settle the score with Woox. "Didn't you say you want to respect my will?"
"Calm down, baby." Woox gestured for him to sit back down on the sofa. "When have I not respected your will, my dear? But since you won't let me take the transfer fee, fine. I'll take the signing fee. I'll have to find a way to take some of your salary. "He placed the gold-rimmed glasses on the table in the box. It was a signal that he was ready to leave.
"Don't do anything. If the media interview you in the next few days, don't say anything other than reaffirming your loyalty to the Forest team. If they ask you, you won't be clear. Let those flies come to me. "He reached out and gently patted Wood's face." Then you can wait to sign a high-paying contract. "
"I only signed it last year …"
"They're willing to give me money. How can I refuse? To celebrate you becoming the highest-paid player in England, this cup of coffee is on you. The next time we want to talk, let's go to your house. Your mother's black tea is very good. "Woox put the glasses box in his pocket and stood up. "Goodbye, George. I hope you won't regret today's decision."
The dashing old man left Wood's side, pushed open the coffee-colored glass door and walked out of the coffee shop.
Wood continued to sit in his seat. He turned his head and watched Woox get into the gray Bentley parked by the side of the road and disappear into the traffic.
※ ※ ※
While Wood was still drinking coffee with Woox, Allan had already flown to Portugal to negotiate a transfer contract for Tiago Mendes with Benfica Football Club. Tiago would transfer from Nottingham Forest to Benfica for six million pounds. If there were no surprises, he would play there until he retired.
Another rather ironic piece of news was that Real Madrid had their eyes on Nottingham Forest's core center back, the Brazilian Pepe. He had just taught the Real Madrid players a hard lesson in the Champions League final more than a month ago, causing the Spanish media to angrily condemn him. If he really went to Madrid, it was hard to imagine how the media would change their mood and sing praises for him.
The left-back Gareth Bale, who scored a total of eleven direct free kicks in all competitions last season, was also tempted by big teams such as Manchester United and Chelsea. Manchester United had even offered twenty million pounds for Bale to be released by Nottingham Forest.
Aaron Mitchell, who was known as England's center forward of the next decade, was also rumored to be involved with a number of clubs. The most well-known team among them was AC Milan.
Nuri Şahin looked like he was going to leave the Forest team for Bayern Munich. Of course, Atletico Madrid was also pursuing the Turkish national team's main midfielder.
Wes Morgan, who had been the team's third captain during Tang En's time, was also confirmed to leave the team. His new team was the newly promoted Maritz United.
Bentley was being tempted by Manchester City.
There were also rumors that Fernández was disappointed with the club and wanted to return to Spain to play.
Gago could go to Inter Milan or Juventus.
Mourinho was very unhappy with Manchester United's goalkeeper after taking over and was urging the board to agree to buy Nottingham Forest's Russian goalkeeper, Akinfeev.
When the European football summer transfer window officially opened on July 1st, countless transfer rumors about Nottingham Forest's players appeared in various media outlets. They came in like a tidal wave, dazzling the eyes and making it difficult to distinguish the truth from the falsehoods.
Every Forest fan's heart surged with panic. They were worried that after the iron fist manager, Tony Twain, was gone, their team would be divided up by the other big powers. When they gathered together to chat in the bar, some people blamed it on the club's incompetence for not being able to keep the meritorious manager. But more fans thought that the responsibility should be borne by Tony Twain.
Although Twain brought endless joy to these people when he was around, his sudden departure at the most joyous time was still regarded by the majority of fans as an unforgivable betrayal. Twain never explained the reason, and the fans' misunderstanding of him deepened.
The man who was once known as the "King of Nottingham Forest" seemed to be facing "desertion" — the club's directors did not miss him, the players he brought together were going to be divided up by the other big powers, and his supporters were now suspicious and disgusted with him. Was there a worse situation in this world than this?
※ ※ ※
While Twain was still looking for a coaching team for the team, the Football Association informed him that he had to lead the team for a match.
"But I haven't confirmed all the candidates for the coaches." Twain was quite dissatisfied with the Football Association's decision. "Not to mention the players."
"Don't worry, Mr. Twain. It's just a friendly match. You can use the same players from the World Cup. The outcome of this match will not affect our evaluation of you. "The Football Association official spoke in a bureaucratic tone.
"There's no such surprise attack in the contract." Twain was still a little unhappy.
"In fact, Mr. Twain … this match was confirmed before you became the manager." The official said.
What else could Twain say? Who asked him to be the slowest person in England's history to build a coaching team?
"Alright, tell me about the opponent. Where are we playing? Wembley or abroad? " Twain casually pulled over a note, intending to write it down in case he forgot due to the mess of things happening recently.
"There's no need to go abroad, Mr. Twain. It'll be in Nottingham, at the Crimson Stadium. Our opponent is Nottingham Forest. "The official tried to make his voice sound normal and not like he was holding back his laughter. But he failed.
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