Chapter 153: The Boardroom

Words : 1266 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 153: The Boardroom Chapter 153: The Boardroom Monday, 18 October, 2010 The club’s boardroom couldn’t have felt more different from the training pitch. Gone were the muddy boots, shouting drills, and the raw energy of the players. In their place stood a gleaming mahogany table, stiff leather chairs, and a wide window that looked out over a perfectly trimmed lawn everything felt clean, quiet, almost too perfect. This wasn’t Julian Thorne’s kingdom, not really. He might’ve had a strong voice, but he didn’t call all the shots. Every big decision from signings to budgets was shaped by a mix of opinions, arguments, and careful compromises. In here, the battles weren’t physical. They were fought with spreadsheets, contracts, and long-term visions. This was the other side of football, where the stakes were just as high, only the rules were different. At the head of the table sat Mr. Hargreaves, the quiet but commanding Chairman whose sharp eyes missed nothing. Beside him was Richard Langley, the smooth-talking Club President all charm and polish, always ready to play the public game. Across the table, Julian Thorne, the owner and main investor, watched with a cold focus. For him, everything came down to numbers. And then there was Emma Hayes, the Sports Director confident, composed, and clearly not here to just go along with the old ways. She was here to make her mark. "A draw against Bournemouth, and a 1-1 with one of Germany’s best in the Europa League," Julian said, a thin smile playing on his lips. "On the surface, we look like a miracle. Share prices are up. The media loves us. But let’s get real." He slid a financial report across the table. "Ticket sales have doubled. Merchandise is flying off the shelves. But so is our cost base. The bonuses alone from the Europa League have set us back a considerable amount. And now..." he paused, a line item on the report glowing with an almost hostile red light. "... we have this." Richard Langley spoke, his voice tense. "Dev’s agent reached out. He’s not looking to renew, he’s shopping offers. Big ones. A Champions League club is circling. According to his agent, it’s not about money. It’s about ambition. And Dev doesn’t see that future in League One." The room fell quiet. This wasn’t about money anymore, it was about desire. Dev might not want to stay. For the first time all meeting, Julian Thorne looked genuinely uneasy. "He’s under contract for two more years," he said. "We don’t have to sell." Emma Hayes shook her head. "Technically, yes we can keep him. But we all know how that plays out. A player who doesn’t want to be here won’t perform. And if the press gets hold of this? It’ll blow up in our faces." It was a no-win situation, and everyone knew it. Sell him now, and the fans would feel betrayed. Keep him, and risk watching his form and value fall apart. Just then, the door swung open. Coach Niels stepped in, still in his training gear, a sharp contrast to the suits around the table. "Gentlemen," Niels said with a respectful nod. He took his seat and, skipping the small talk, got straight to business. Instead of financial reports, he pulled out his own papers, detailed notes on recent matches and training sessions. Emma Hayes, standing nearby, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, quietly showing her support. "I know what’s on your minds," he started, his voice calm but firm. "It’s about Dev’s agent, and the worry that we’re relying too much on just one player like everything depends on him. But that’s exactly why we’re making changes. The new system isn’t built around one star. It’s about the whole team." He slid the papers across the table. The top page showed a diagram of the new 4-3-1-2 formation. "Take our game against AFC Bournemouth," he said. "In the first half, we looked lost. Why? Because we were playing for Dev. Trying to force the ball to him left him all alone and it left the rest of us disconnected too." "Then," he went on, "I brought in Paul Pogba and Danny Freeman. Suddenly, Dev wasn’t carrying the team alone, he became just one part of a bigger machine. And the result? A smooth, powerful midfield that Bournemouth just couldn’t handle. Every player had a job to do, and everyone was involved in the attack." Emma Hayes stepped forward, her voice steady and confident. "Niels is spot on. I’ve looked at the numbers, and it’s clear we’re not just a one-man team. Our academy and squad are full of talent players like Pogba, Simons, Henry, and Thiago. The new system is built to bring out the best in all of them. Losing Dev would hurt, no doubt, but it’s not the end of the story. The real strength is in the system, not just one player’s skill." Niels leaned in, his voice low but full of passion. "That’s exactly the vision. A team that wins, whether Dev is on the pitch or not. That’s how you build a club that lasts. We’re investing in the whole team, not just one player. Dev’s agent sees our success as just a stepping stone, but we need to show him and Dev that this is just the start of something truly special, not the end." He looked Mr. Hargreaves in the eye. "We can’t match a Champions League team offer, that’s obvious. So instead of trying to compete on money, we compete on something deeper. We appeal to his heart, to his loyalty. We remind him that here, he’s a hero, a legend in the making. At a big club, he’s just another player. But here? He’s the reason fans show up. We sell him the dream of building a legacy, of taking this club further than anyone imagined. We remind him he belongs with us." "He might not accept," Julian Thorne said, his voice steady and practical. "Then we will have done everything we can," Niels replied, meeting his gaze without hesitation. "And we’ll have shown that this club is bigger than any one player. The new system, the talent we already have, the foundation we’re building, that’s our real strength. Not just Dev’s goal in Germany, but our ability to grow and evolve together as a team." Mr. Hargreaves’ eyes moved from the financial report to the tactical diagram, then to Julian Thorne and Emma Hayes, and finally to the coach’s calm expression. Emma spoke up, "Let’s be clear, Chairman. With two years left on his contract, we’re in a strong position. If his agent pushes for a move, we could get a big fee. That’s an important advantage for us." The chairman listened carefully, his face thoughtful. Richard Langley nodded slowly, spotting the PR opportunity a big transfer could bring. Julian Thorne looked visibly relieved, a hefty transfer fee made the whole situation feel much less stressful. This decision wasn’t just about money or publicity anymore. It was about what kind of club they wanted to become. The room went quiet again, but this time it wasn’t fear, it was the weight of a huge decision hanging in the air. The football world was watching, sure, but even more important was the future of Crawley Town Football Club resting on what they chose next. What will the board decide? Can they convince Dev to stay and buy into the vision? And how will the media react to this new Chapter? The story isn’t over, the journey is just beginning.

Chapter 153: The Boardroom

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