Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - "Where did HE come from?": a legendary Football Manager tale

Greyfriars Bobby · 05-11-2015, 04:27 PM

2 September 2014

The good news for Charlie Ross and his Coventry City team was simple. The transfer window was now closed, and Franz Beckenbauer was, somehow, still in the team. Valued at £5 million, Beckenbauer's price tag might have scared off all but the wealthiest suitors, but Ross was a bit surprised that none of the big clubs made a move for him. None of them expressed the slightest bit of interest.

With Beckenbauer on the job, the Sky Blues sat fourth in the League One table, two points adrift of the leaders. The team had conceded only three goals in league play, which was not surprising; one of the best defenders in history was patrolling their back line.

Coventry were out of the Capital One cup, losing 0-2 at home to Reading, but nobody had expected them to progress very far anyway.

Off the field, the club was adjusting to a new chairman. The Coventry City Supporters' Trust, led by local businessman Keith Hanley, took over the club, and pledged to remedy its wobbly finances. Hanley's first move was to loan the club nearly £400,000, which on the surface seemed to do little more than create even more debt. Perhaps the fact that the Sky Blues were now able to move back into spacious Ricoh Arena would help the financial picture.

The club's most valuable asset seemed to be its legendary German sweeper. Beckenbauer's contract was set to expire at the end of the season, and his agent was making it very clear that his client would not sign a new deal with Coventry City.

Charlie Ross was, therefore, faced with a dilemma.

Should he offer Beckenbauer for sale during the January transfer window, hopefully bringing in a big pile of cash before Franz could leave on a free transfer? The Summoner might then be able to bring him a new player.

Or, should he allow Franz to remain with the club all year, hopefully leading it to victory after victory, and play out his contract? The club would miss out on the financial windfall a big sale would bring, but might be rewarded with a promotion...

(Feel free to express your opinions, everybody.)

05-11-2015, 04:27 PM	#13
Greyfriars Bobby College Prospect Join Date: Sep 2013	2 September 2014 The good news for Charlie Ross and his Coventry City team was simple. The transfer window was now closed, and Franz Beckenbauer was, somehow, still in the team. Valued at £5 million, Beckenbauer's price tag might have scared off all but the wealthiest suitors, but Ross was a bit surprised that none of the big clubs made a move for him. None of them expressed the slightest bit of interest. With Beckenbauer on the job, the Sky Blues sat fourth in the League One table, two points adrift of the leaders. The team had conceded only three goals in league play, which was not surprising; one of the best defenders in history was patrolling their back line. Coventry were out of the Capital One cup, losing 0-2 at home to Reading, but nobody had expected them to progress very far anyway. Off the field, the club was adjusting to a new chairman. The Coventry City Supporters' Trust, led by local businessman Keith Hanley, took over the club, and pledged to remedy its wobbly finances. Hanley's first move was to loan the club nearly £400,000, which on the surface seemed to do little more than create even more debt. Perhaps the fact that the Sky Blues were now able to move back into spacious Ricoh Arena would help the financial picture. The club's most valuable asset seemed to be its legendary German sweeper. Beckenbauer's contract was set to expire at the end of the season, and his agent was making it very clear that his client would not sign a new deal with Coventry City. Charlie Ross was, therefore, faced with a dilemma. Should he offer Beckenbauer for sale during the January transfer window, hopefully bringing in a big pile of cash before Franz could leave on a free transfer? The Summoner might then be able to bring him a new player. Or, should he allow Franz to remain with the club all year, hopefully leading it to victory after victory, and play out his contract? The club would miss out on the financial windfall a big sale would bring, but might be rewarded with a promotion... (Feel free to express your opinions, everybody.) Last edited by Greyfriars Bobby : 05-11-2015 at 09:29 PM.