“My terms are a five-year-contract, weekly salary of 20 thousand pounds with a 15 percent raise every year, and an additional bonus of 100 thousand for signing on.” Woox said, finally revealing his expectations.
“A contract of five years, weekly salary of 10 thousand with a 10 percent raise per year, and… a 50 thousand bonus sign-on fee.” Tang En said in response.
“Five-year-contract, weekly salary of 20 thousand with a 15 percent raise per year, and a sign-on fee of a hundred thousand.” Woox said, refusing to budge.
Tang En very much wanted to tell the man before him that they were in discussions about player treatment, not haggling for pork at the market. But, he figured the old Brit would not know what he meant even if he said it.
An extended stalemate would not benefit him in any way. These days, he had been busy with the purchase of Arteta as well as dealing with Wood’s agent; it was troubling. As a result, he had not been able to prepare much for the FA Cup match with Manchester United. The earlier it ended, the earlier he would be free from this…
“I’ll give in just a step more, Mr. Woox. If we still can’t reach a consensus, I will not further discuss the terms of George’s new contract before the end of the season.”
Tang En took out a fountain pen and wrote the new terms on a piece of memo. He passed it to Woox.
Receiving it, Woox looked at the numbers written:
5, 15000, 10%, 100000.
He contemplated it for a moment, weighing it in his mind, and finally nodded his head with a smile. “I accept, Mr. Tony.”
Tang En’s face also broke into a similar smile, seemingly delighted to have reached an agreement. In truth, the darn agent was close to becoming blue with bruises from Tang En’s cursing in his heart.
He felt that Woox’s choice of timing in his approach was entirely within his calculations. His approach immediately after Forest team had signed on Arteta made Tang En think that he was eager to seal the deal. Instead, he wasted Tang En’s time just before a crucial match trying to wrangle over the terms. At first, Tang En did not think of this. It only came to mind after he saw the smile on Billy Woox’s face.
This damn bastard!
Woox stood and reached out with his hand. “I am happy that our cooperation has gotten off to a good start. I hope we can keep continuing to cooperate like this in the future.”
“Of course, so do I.” Tang En smiled forcefully and put out his hand as well. The tips of their fingers had barely touched before they both retrieved their hands. That could be considered a handshake as well…
“But, I still whole-heartedly suggest for Mr. Woox to learn more about this industry. Soccer and the entertainment circle are not the same things.”
Woox said nothing in agreement or denial. He simply maintained a smile and ignored Tang En’s words.
The two then agreed for Billy Woox to bring Wood to the club next afternoon for the signing of the new contract. And that was the end of this matter.
※※※
After sending Woox off, Tang En sat on his chair and swivelled back to look at the training grounds. Everyone had already left, including the workers who maintained the grass.
Even his battles against Ferguson, Wenger, Mourinho, and Benítez on the sidelines had not made him this tired. Perhaps it was because he had not, in these two years, gotten much contact with such astute agents.
George Wood had mentioned to Tang En that Billy Woox quoted David Beckham as a player model of success to him. As a result, Tang En was suddenly gripped with worry that the history of Beckham and Ferguson would be repeated by George and himself.
When the money George earns get to point where Sophia no longer had to worry for their livelihood, could he still maintain the attitude he had now? Under the guidance of Woox, when he gets into contact with a new dazzling world of temptations filled with flamboyantly-dressed men and women, and a life of extravagance, would it shaken his resolve to keep going down the path he was on now?
Staying in luxurious houses, driving expensive cars, interacting with celebrities and other star artistes, getting into all sorts of messy rumours with beautiful women, filming commercials, movies, releasing albums… What was the difference between that and an entertainment star?
Tang En stood up abruptly from his seat.
Beckham was a professional footballer who was also an entertainment star! He finally knew the reason Billy Woox wanted to become Wood’s agent; since Wood was already a professional footballer, why not groom him into a footballer who also had the demeanour of an entertainment star? It’s little wonder why he chose Beckham as an example.
Tang En swore and sat down again.
Alright then. He would wait and observe exactly the kind of big star George Wood would become…
※※※
The next day, after George Wood ended his training, he arrived at Tang En’s office with Billy. Both Wood’s manager, Tony Twain, and the club’s chairman Evan Doughty were already waiting for him. Both parties exchanged greetings and got seated. After a final look through the contract, Wood signed his name on the new contract prepared by the club.
A weekly salary of 15 thousand. George Wood had leapt into the mid-to-upper tier salary range within Forest team.
“George, you’re a big football star now! Tang En joked.
Although Billy Woox by the side made a show of approval, he followed-up without giving any face, “Hmms. A big football star with a weekly pay of 15 thousand.”
Tang En glanced at him but said nothing. In his heart, he knew that this figure would not satisfy Woox. In the future, when Wood’s performance becomes better and better, and when he gets selected for the national team, Billy Woox would continually pop up to look for Tang En and request for a revision of their contract; to increase his pay.
Only… if at that point, Forest’s results were excellent, and the operational situation of the club was good, Tang En would be willing to give Wood even a weekly salary of a hundred thousand.
After sending off Wood and Billy, Evan and Tang En who were standing at the doors exchanged glances.
Tang En said with a smile, “In the next five years, we won’t have to worry about defence in the midfield.”
Evan was seemingly uninterested in Tang En’s words, and said with a frown, “Tony. I don’t usually get involved with matters of the team, but I have a suggestion.”
“Yeah?”
“I have quietly gotten word out to Nottingham’s media to highly publicise the contract renewal this time.”
Tang En was taken aback by what Evan Doughty said. Earlier, he had noticed that Evan did not smile much and thought his boss was unhappy because of the terms they had agreed to for such a young lad. He did not expect it to be highly publicised!
“George Wood is a player nurtured by Forest team, us. As a young man, he has a lot of potential to be able to sit steadily in a main position for the First Team. Even I can tell that. So, I hope you will consider nurturing him to become the future captain of the team…”
“This…” To be honest, Tang En had not considered such a matter. At best, he thought Wood had the potential to become the future core strength of the midfield in the team; he had never once thought of putting the captain’s armband on Wood’s left arm.
“From the perspective of the image of the club and our fans’ feelings, I think we have a need to nurture a captain of our own. I don’t care what position he plays, or what style of football he kicks, but he must be loyal; he must be someone we groomed on our own, a player of ours.
A cursory look at the First Team revealed that the only person who fulfilled the criteria seemed to be George Wood alone.
While Wes Morgan was a player groomed by Forest’s Youth Training and was even the captain of the Youth Team, his abilities were limited and was unable to hold a main position in the English Premier League matches. The team certainly could not allow a substitute to be the captain. Eastwood was greatly loved by the fans, but strictly speaking, could not be said to be Nottinghamian. Only George Wood was both groomed by Forest’s Youth Team and took on a main position within the First Team. Additionally, he had become one of the hottest younger players within England. It was only within reason to make him the successor to the captain’s position.
After considering these, Tang En nodded. “Okay, I will consider this matter. But I think it would need some time. George is still lacking too much to be suitable as a captain right now.”
Evan agreed and replied, “That’s right. That is why I think you are right to let him learn more from Demi. He should be able to learn a lot from the Italian. We have all seen his improvement; in fact, it is progressing at an incredible speed.”
The backs of George Wood and his agent had already disappeared into the alleys outside the gates. Evan Doughty was still looking in that direction.
“A chick who is forever protected under the wings of his mother would never be able to grow into an eagle who can soar and take flight in the skies. Push him forward, Tony.”
“Yeah.”