CHAPTER 520: SACKED AND APPOINT (LONG CHAPTER)

"Sir, but can you tell me roughly when—?"

Richard raised his hands, signaling that he understood the implication behind the question.

"I can’t. Even I don’t know yet. However..." Richard lifted his head and glanced at the ceiling before continuing. "Based on current performance, it should be very soon."

As a football club owner, how far do you go with that side of it? Are you opening up areas that might not actually be conducive to strong performance?

The matches against Tottenham, Inter Milan, and the recent game with Rushden & Diamonds made Richard understand.

That day after Mourinho, Richard held a meeting with Martin O’Neill.

Trailing Aston Villa by 13 points in the current table, knocked out from the Champions League group stage, and drawing against Rushden & Diamonds in FA cup.... and not only that, the players felt utterly dejected. When he entered the locker room, there was no reaction from anyone.

"I’m sorry. I’ve let you down. My ambition to reach the last 16 clouded my judgment. I should have given everyone more rest, preserved their form, and helped them approach the matches more rationally. This is all my fault. My string of risky decisions put us in this position, and no opponent can ever be underestimated. I should have known better." O’Neill’s words were laden with remorse, his self-blame clear.

Richard looked at the person in front of him with a sigh. It wasn’t until they truly fell that he seemed fully awakened.

His thoughts naturally drifted to the rotation strategy they had implemented at the start of the season, which had stopped by the end of October after the players had recovered from food poisoning. Was it the coach’s failure to rotate the squad, or the players’ reluctance to be rotated?

Everyone wanted the title, so naturally, managers wanted to field their strongest lineup for every match. Several players even volunteered, insisting on continuing to play without breaks.

O’Neill agreed to their requests. But they had overestimated their own bodies. Trying to manage cup matches while fully committing to the league took its toll. By the eighth match of an intense October-to-December schedule, fatigue finally showed its face.

For example, in the game against Inter Milan, they painfully realized their desire to fight was not enough—they simply lacked the strength. Sprinting felt arduous, and by halftime, many players were already gasping for breath. And then there were the matches against teams parking the bus—Tottenham Hotspur before, and now the same tactic by Rushden & Diamonds—which left City frustrated.

At the end of the day, who let whom down?

’Understanding when you’re pushing yourself too hard and need to take some time out to refresh is also a skill that a manager needs to possess—whether it’s a day or a couple of days to step away from the world you know and unwind.’

O’Neill was undoubtedly good at motivation, but his way of treating players wasn’t quite the same as the future Martin O’Neill Richard had known at Celtic. The knack for balancing discipline with empathy, knowing exactly when to push his players and when to give them space to breathe. But there was a gap between intention and impact—motivation alone wasn’t enough if the players didn’t feel truly supported in the way they needed.

However, what he had seen at Manchester City over the past month made it seem as if the entire team had gone "mad," leaving Richard’s sense of clarity feeling fragile and powerless. O’Neill resembled a father indulging a misbehaving child: instead of scolding the child harshly when he wanted freedom, the father showed patience, letting him run wild—only to bandage his wounds when he inevitably fell and got hurt.

Richard could have screamed at them in frustration, but that would only have incited rebellion, creating an irreparable rift. After all, he wasn’t the manager. His role as a director of high performance was to offer advice to the staff, and based on what had happened at Manchester City, it was the players who had collectively "rebelled." No matter whom O’Neill scolded, they wouldn’t comply; winning was reason enough for them to reject any criticism.

"How do you rate City’s last performance?"

"The players were very fatigued, yet they persevered, even though they didn’t score. That’s a rare quality on the pitch, reflecting their fighting spirit."

"Why didn’t you give the players some time to rest?"

O’Neill paused for a moment before replying, "When you have the chance to win a match, you naturally want to field all your strongest players. I made a mistake; I should have let the players rest. I think this is a lesson I need to remember. Regardless, the season is still long—I won’t make the same mistake again."

Richard shook his head. After the draw against Rushden & Diamonds, he could already foresee the backlash. The players would become the target of public scorn, and with the media spotlight turning critical, any cracks in authority would be laid bare.

More worrying, it would expose his own potential loss of control over the team—a subtle shift that could quickly spiral into chaos. A crisis both internal and external was looming, and if not managed carefully, it could push the squad toward collapse, undermining months of effort and strategy.

Now, in line with what he said yesterday, what matters to him is that Manchester City has been knocked out of the Champions League, which means his promise has been fulfilled.

Someone needs to take responsibility.

Richard gave a bittersweet smile toward O’Neill. "Sounds a bit melodramatic, doesn’t it? The world never goes as we wish."

The events of this half-season were intricate and couldn’t be summed up so simply.

Richard had wanted a trophy like last season, but City needed balance. If they achieved nothing this season, he believed they wouldn’t be able to keep the players. At the end of the day, to push for success in the Premier League or Champions League, sacrifices in domestic cups were necessary.

Yes, the cup could also ensure that younger players grew quickly, but now, with City in such an ambiguous state, what about next season? They would still face a lack of depth. If severe injuries struck key players, results would inevitably plummet.

When O’Neill heard what Richard said, he knew immediately that the decision had already been made. There was no room left for debate or negotiation—his words carried the weight of finality.

The next day~

[...Breaking: Manchester City Part Ways with Martin O’Neill!...]

In a shocking move that has sent ripples across the football world, Manchester City have announced the sacking of manager Martin O’Neill, after nearly four years in charge. The club cited "unmet performance expectations and the need for a new strategic direction" as the reasons behind the decision, a statement released early this morning read.

The statement was careful in its wording, but everyone knew the real reasons: their early exit from Europe, combined with inconsistent performances in the Premier League, proved decisive in the board’s—or arguably the owner Richard Maddox’s—decision.

And when the owner makes this decision, he naturally means it literally: the manager is dismissed.

Steve Walford (U17 manager), Willie McStay (coach), and Terry Gennoe (GK coach)—who all followed O’Neill when he joined City—also left the club.

It’s very common for most of the coaching staff brought in by a manager to depart as well. The staff usually work closely with the manager and follow their methods. A new manager will likely want their own trusted team. As for Richard, he had already made it clear that whenever he makes this kind of decision, he allows or even encourages the outgoing manager’s staff to leave, making room for the incoming team.

With your typical manager perched on the ever-present precipice of being sacked, you might be quick to feel sympathy for them, with job insecurity a constant burden, difficult family arrangements, and an inability to put down roots. But that’s until you uncover the very healthy financial compensation they receive in light of their contract termination.

O’Neill arrived at the club in 1994 on a two-year contract. After a string of strong results, he signed a new deal in 1996. Remarkably, less than a year later, having become nearly invincible and winning two trophies the previous year, Richard rewarded him with a four-year contract—which meant a huge financial payoff.

Ultimately, the amount of compensation paid to a manager in light of being dismissed completely depends on what is stated in their employment contract.

Whilst a range of factors within the contract can contribute to determining the total payout, the amount of time remaining on the contract is the most crucial. For example, if a manager signs a two-year contract and is dismissed merely two months into that period, the club is legally obliged to pay them the amount they would have earned had they seen the contract through.

"How much do we pay, then?"

While Richard was eager to avoid an exorbitant payout, City had only two options to manage the cost of dismissing a manager: either wait until the contract neared its natural end, or cut their losses and pay out early to bring in a new manager.

Miss Heysen had carefully calculated the potential cost before presenting the figures to Richard.

Remaining contract: 3 years 7 months

Salary: £24,000 per week

Total payout: £24,000 × 186 weeks = £4.46 million

"Are we really doing this?" Miss Heysen couldn’t help but ask.

"I don’t make promises I can’t keep," Richard replied with a nod.

It’s no secret to anyone who follows football: you’ll see more managers sacked than you’ll have hot dinners.

It is one of the most insecure jobs on the planet. Of course, this raises a question too: what if a manager doesn’t actually deserve to be sacked? After all, clubs have a duty to fulfil their side of the contract as well. This is where unfair dismissal comes into play.

As a football owner, Richard naturally anticipated this. With the possibility of a coach’s dismissal always in mind, one common clause in a manager’s contract is the referral of potential disputes to the Managers’ Arbitration Tribunal — English football’s port of call for contractual disagreements. Once an employee has offered their services to an employer for two years, they have the right to bring forward such a claim.

Still, unfair dismissal isn’t something you’ll come across very often in football. So, why is this the case? After all, underperformance on the pitch might not necessarily mean the coach is incapable.

Whilst football managers do, in theory, have every right to file a claim, the reality is that they are simply not in what you would call a "normal job." The scale of their salaries and the nature of the sport mean that managers will rarely pursue an appeal process regarding the legitimacy of their dismissal.

The right of appeal in law falls under the Employment Rights Act 1996, which applies to every employee in any profession. But with the next job usually just around the corner — and the hefty financial compensation that comes with it — it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that most managers would rather save the fight for another day.

"But who’s the replacement? Do you already have a candidate?"

Hearing the question, Richard only smiled.

On the same day, Richard immediately called a meeting with Jose Mourinho, where they discussed contracts and the new staff Mourinho wanted to bring to City, since the current staff had left after joining O’Neill. Just as Mourinho was secretly celebrating, Ricahrd had to dampen his spirits.

"Oh, I forgot—there’s still one more thing. Perhaps I should let you know in advance."

From Richard’s tone, Mourinho could tell that something wasn’t right. He looked at him and waited quietly for him to finish.

"You might have to select a new captain, Jose."

"What?" Mourinho now understood why Richard had been beating around the bush. "Zanetti is leaving the team?!"

Richard nodded.

This news left Mourinho extremely shocked, stunned that the team’s pillar was leaving. "How did it come to this?" he muttered.

"Zanetti was very tempted to play in Italy. On top of that, the team’s poor performance and inability to win any matches has made him lose confidence in the team. And, you know, the super clubs tend to be more attractive for players who are already at the peak of their careers."

"Which team?"

"Huh?"

"You said Italy. Which team is Zanetti going to?"

"Inter Milan."

"...Aside from him, who else is leaving?"

Richard looked at Mourinho with a face full of shock. "How did you know there are others discussing transfers?"

Talking about the second one, Richard couldn’t help but sigh deeply. "You’re right. Buffon will also be going to Juventus, but I’ll try my best to keep him."

Mourinho was speechless. Two pillars leaving.

"How much did they pay for the two of them?"

"Zanetti is 69 billion lire, and Buffon is 100 billion lire."

"...How much is that in pounds?"

"31 million and 52 million."

"...?!"

52 million!

A world-record transfer fee for a goalkeeper!

Richard had fully embraced the way he would run Manchester City, using a philosophy of creating value and selling at the right moment. The cases of Buffon and Zanetti, to be honest, were heavy blows but what else could he do?

In the world of football business, tough decisions were inevitable. Profits had to be balanced with performance, and sometimes that meant letting go of legends to secure the club’s future. Develop young talents, nurture them, and sell them at peak value.

Seeing Mourinho lower his head without uttering a word, Richard guessed he was dissatisfied with the transaction. He explained, "We don’t have a reason to reject the offer if the player themsel accept—"

Mourinho nodded. "I understand, I understand... more than eighty million... but Mr. Richard, I want to ask you a question, and you must answer me seriously."

"Speak your mind, Jose."

"You know there are countless football clubs in this world, but how many of them are actually earning money?"

"We have our own plans, Jose. I am the club’s sole owner. I manage the team and naturally won’t want to make a loss. Didn’t Manchester United allow the Edwards family to earn a lot of money?"

Mourinho knew nothing about managing a club and didn’t want to get tangled in a topic he wasn’t familiar with, so he redirected the conversation. "Very well. You have your own plans. Sir, no offense, but do you know the sources of income for a football club?"

Richard was taken aback, amused, nodded. "Of course. Television broadcast fees, various sponsors, player transfers, ticket sales, as well as revenue from other related products and facilities."

"That’s right. You took Manchester United as an example—or rather, a goal. Let me tell you sir, from my professional perspective: the method to make money." Mourinho raised a finger. "Television broadcasting fees are one of the biggest sources of income. The more your team’s matches get broadcasted, the more fees you receive. You must be very clear on this point."

"Mmm hmm," Richard nodded.

"Then, in your opinion, between broadcasting fees for a First Division match and a Premier League match, which is higher?"

"Of course, the Premier League."

"Very good. Then, how many times do you think a team barely surviving in the First Division can have its matches broadcasted? Did we get a substantial amount from television broadcasting? Didn’t we also get huge transfer funds from selling Zanetti and Buffon?"

Richard looked at Mourinho seriously.

"Then let’s talk about sponsors. What kind of teams are able to attract global enterprises—Vodafone, Nike, Adidas, Opel, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Emirates, etc.? Can a struggling team barely surviving in the First Division attract them?"

Richard was no fool. He already knew what Mourinho was getting at. "Don’t worry about sponsors. I can take care of it."

"I know, I know, I understand, sir. What I want to say is: I know you want to make money, but what’s the most basic foundation for attracting money for us? The team must have good results, be able to win trophy! Only after that can we talk about the other stuff. Sir, you know this logic better than I do. What are the fundamentals for winning trophies and glory? Outstanding players and a stable team! Now, you just sold the team captain and the man goalkeeper—"

"Fifty million!" Richard suddenly interrupted, shutting Mourinho’s mouth instantly.

"..."

"I give you twenty million. Give me the name, and I will bring him back to you in the summer. How is that?"

Mourinho paused for a while, then resumed in a significantly calmer tone. "Sir, I understand your predicament. You are a businessman, and your goal is to ensure the club can generate revenue. You want to make money, while I want glory. We both have lofty ambitions. But a team that only knows how to sell its core and star players is bound to have a bleak future. If you believe in me, I can build a solid foundation for your money-making plan. I can’t help you earn money directly, but I can help you win matches. Do you believe in me, sir?"

Ricahrd looked at Mourinho, and Mourinho looked back at him.

"I believe you, Jose."