I Am a Nobleman in England

"Sorry, it looks like I won't be able to accompany you to Stonehenge tomorrow."

After dinner, on the way back to the Southampton Harbor Spa Hotel in a Rolls-Royce, Arthur looked helplessly at Jiang Lai who was thinking about something beside him and said.

"It's okay, it's important to do business. You can go to Stonehenge anytime, can't you?"

Jiang Lai's originally slightly frowned brows stretched out, and a charming smile appeared on his fair and pretty face. The red spring lightly parted, and he said curiously: "It's just that I didn't expect that a football club would be so cheap. I read reports before, and it's not all One or two hundred million pounds? Thirteen million pounds... Well, although it is a lot, I always feel that they agreed too easily."

"Hehe, you don't really think I'll only spend 13 million pounds, do you?" Arthur smiled jokingly.

"Is there something else to say here?"

"Of course, the most important point is the club's debt, which is why Southampton has to declare bankruptcy, and after being relegated to the third division, they can't borrow money from the bank, so this The 13 million pounds was the ownership of Southampton, and the troubles within the club will all be passed on to me.

Hehe, they are not fools, let's take a look tomorrow, if the hole is too big, maybe I will return on the spot. "Arthur shook his head and laughed, explaining to Jiang Lai.

"So that's the case." Jiang Lai nodded suddenly.

In fact, this is a very common phenomenon. It seems that in 2007 when Mike Ashley, who was called a stinky 13, a bitch, and a fat man by fans, bought Newcastle, he spent 80 million pounds. But after the acquisition is completed, find out After checking the accounts, it was discovered that Newcastle still had a debt of 70 million pounds.

It is because of this that Ashley has declared that he will sell the team every year since he bought Newcastle, but the offer has always been more than 300 million pounds, and he still refuses to let go because he has successfully sold the team. Newcastle's debt of 70 million pounds became 150 million pounds. . . . . .

However, Arthur never imagined that the Southampton club he was going to take over would be so miserable. . . Yes, it was miserable, it was horrible!

On the next day, Arthur accompanied Jiang Lai to have breakfast, and after parting, he brought Nicola Courtis and his six-person team who came to meet him at the hotel, Arthur's lawyer James, and financial consultant Robert Lang brought The two accountants drove to the Saints' famous Staplewood training base together.

When Rolls-Royce arrived at the Staplewood training base, the shareholders of the club who had received the news earlier had already brought people to wait at the door. As soon as they saw Arthur get off the car, they immediately greeted him.

"Good morning, Mr. Boleyn!"

Arthur looked at the three shareholders with smiles on their faces, and the somewhat worried look on their brows behind them. For some reason, the club management who looked at him curiously couldn't help laughing in their hearts.

It seems that the club's owners are about to sell the Saints. The club's management seems to have just received the news. The tall, middle-aged white man with a gloomy face should be the club manager who just took office. Otherwise, why would it be? What about the look of resentment after being betrayed?

However, Arthur just glanced at each other, and didn't take another look at all, because these people were just migrant workers.

When the new boss takes over, the most important thing they should do is to worry about their future fate.

However, after everyone swarmed into the Staplewood training base, what Arthur saw made his forehead start to appear black lines, and his veins twitched.

In addition to the turf, the mottled building, the rust-like traces left by the rain, and other facilities all reveal an old atmosphere. What's more, it looks crowded. The office area of ​​the staff of various departments is a messy scene, and I really don't know what to say.

Arthur finally believed that on the way here, why did Curtis jokingly say that the Saints staff would go to the away locker room to find sports drinks, tape measures, scissors and other materials left by the visiting team?

This isn't a joke, it's a damn thing to prevent him, it's just a beggar amateur team.

No wonder they chose not to work at the St. Mary's Stadium and moved the club's office to the Staplewood training base, because this is the only place where Southampton can continue to create value for the team. Another batch of young players is their way to make money.

Under the curious and puzzled eyes of the club staff, everyone walked into the conference room and sat opposite each other. As soon as they sat down, Arthur said meaningfully: "I thought the Saints were deeply in the quagmire of relegation, unable to struggle. It is the biggest dilemma we are facing, and now it seems that Southampton's dilemma is not limited to this!"

"Ahem..."

The three shareholders sitting across from each other looked at each other with some embarrassment, lowered their heads and coughed lightly to cover up their embarrassment, while the other club managements present were even more ashamed. They already knew that the young man sitting opposite was The new owner who is about to spend money to buy the club, it just seems that they have left a bad impression on the future new owner.

"It is indeed because of business problems that caused financial difficulties. This has to be admitted. I hope that the Saints can be saved in the hands of Mr. Bolling in the future."

A shareholder who has completely lost interest in the Southampton club said bluntly, there is no way, the facts are the facts, the Saints are on the verge of collapse, and this kind of thing cannot be covered up, it is better to tell the truth.

"I hope." Arthur nodded lightly and said, "Then, let's start, let's talk about accounts and liabilities first, I just hope this pit is not too deep, so deep that I can't climb up..."

Arthur's ridicule did not arouse laughter, but instead made the atmosphere dignified and awkward.

The three shareholders looked at each other, and they all saw helplessness on each other's faces, and saw that their wish to complete the transaction with the other party's money and then check the accounts could not be fulfilled. Sure enough, they were not fools.

The three shareholders directly ignored the club manager who kept silent and had a gloomy face, and said to the chief financial officer: "Let's tell the truth."

"Currently the club has a total debt of 18 million pounds, and a loan of 5 million pounds will expire in November..."

Well, no wonder it is on the verge of collapse, the funds in the account are -18 million pounds, and the loan of 5 million will be repaid soon, the players cannot be sold, and the money cannot be paid out.

However, Arthur, who was already mentally prepared, did not stand up and leave directly, because this was within his acceptable range. If the other party managed well, it would not be so cheap to sell the club.

Arthur patiently listened to the detailed report of the club's chief financial officer, and the other party was indeed reporting the truth, without hiding it, and even introduced in detail the income and expenditure of selling players in the past two years.

"...Wait, you just said that when Gareth Bale was sold to Tottenham, there was a transfer clause?"

Arthur suddenly interrupted the other party's report, but frowned, stared at the other party sharply, and asked with a hint of surprise in his tone.

"Yes, this transfer clause is that we will get 15% of any future transfer fee of Bell. However, some time ago, we negotiated with Tottenham due to financial difficulties and waived this clause as a condition. Tottenham received a compensation of 3 million pounds from Tottenham, but Tottenham’s reply has to be considered, and no reply has yet been received.”

"Actually, it's nothing to give up. The club can at least get a small part of the training cost from Bell's future transfer fee, which is about 2.5%." At this time, the new club manager who had been silent all the time explained.

2.5% to Nima!

Arthur cursed directly in his heart, and gave the other party a cold look. If he really followed this advice, he would definitely regret it and vomit blood in two years.

In the previous life, who didn't know that the Great Saint Bell was bought by the local tycoon Golden Real Madrid for 91 million euros. This clause alone is enough to earn back the funds to buy the Saints Club!

This is really an unexpected surprise!

Tsk tsk, it is worthwhile for the saints to train Bell, and he can still drink soup in the future!

However, Arthur didn't look overjoyed. Instead, he continued to signal the chief financial officer to continue speaking very calmly. As for the club manager, he just ignored him. He was an unlucky guy waiting for the judgment of fate.

After the chief financial officer finished his report, Arthur turned his attention to the three shareholders who looked a bit worried and said, "I have almost understood the basic situation, so let's let the lawyers draft the contract. After an hour of fighting, We're popping champagne to celebrate!"

"no problem!"

The three shareholders, who were still worried, said happily when they heard what Arthur said.

After a short period of embarrassment, looking at Arthur, the four of them shook their heads and laughed unanimously. Now one is determined to buy it, and the other three are determined to sell it. There is no obstacle at all.

I just don't know the future. After you know that a single transfer clause can get me back my money, will you regret today's decision?