282 The Star of Tomorrow Part 1 (1/2)

Chapter 282: The Star of Tomorrow Part 1

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The successful signing of Mikel Arteta not only boosted the strength of Forest team in the midfield; it also had an unintentional side effect: Billy Woox's anxiety.

After turning down his demands for an increase in George Wood's salary, Forest rapidly brought in another midfielder who played the same position. It did not take much to make the connection.

Early morning on the day after, Tang En's phone rang. A look at the incoming number told him that it was Billy Woox calling. Tang En chuckled to himself. He knew exactly why this person was in such a hurry to deal with the matter of increasing Wood's salary. Clearly, it was because the two had just signed the agent contract and Woox hoped to produce some results to prove his capability.

Of course, there was also little need to question his immense enthusiasm in changing the treatment clauses for a player under his charge. Tang En doubted he was sincerely doing it for Wood's good. In truth, the income of the agent was completely dependent on the players under him. FIFA-approved agents were only allowed to draw up to five percent of the total income generated by the footballer (this included income from salary, brand endorsement charges, fees from portrait rights, etc.), as well as 10 percent of the player's transfer fee.

Wood's current weekly salary was only 2,800 pounds. Five percent of that was 140 pounds. Furthermore, other than George Wood's weekly salary as a consistent stream of income, he had no other sources. In other words, as Wood's agent, Billy Woox could only receive up to 140 pounds of remuneration per week. That was indeed a little too shabby…

Tang En waited for four rings before picking up the call. He grumbled, sounding purposefully half-asleep. ”I hope you know what time it is, Mr. Woox…”

”I'm very sorry, Mr. Tony. I didn't think that you wouldn't be up by now.” His tone of voice was as caustic as ever without a shred of remorse.

Tang En had wanted to tease his opponent but was unexpectedly made fun of. With a cough, his voice returned to normal. ”What's the matter, Mr. Woox?”

”Ah, of course. I hope we can begin a re-negotiation of George Wood's terms of contract.”

Tang En interrupted him. ”Is it still a weekly salary of 40 thousand?”

If it was still 40 thousand, there was no need for a discussion. He would put down the phone and have breakfast, continuing to coolly deal with this.

Naturally, Tang En understood that Wood's salary at the moment was considered to be very little. However, he needed the other man to make an offer that was acceptable, and not one that was overly exorbitant. In other words, what he needed was a graceful retreat. Unfortunately, the Woox's personality made him think too highly of himself. His excessive demand of ”40 thousand per week” at a go discomforted Tang En enormously.

”If the club feels that it's not a reasonable number, we can continue discussing.” Since Woox made a clear indication of taking a step back, Tang En followed his cue.

”Very well, Mr. Woox. Please come down to my office at 3:30 this afternoon. Let's speak face-to-face.”

※※※

Currently, Forest was undergoing double the load of their usual training. They were preparing for the impending fourth round of the English FA Cup. They would be welcoming a strong foe on their home grounds, a team they had won not long ago, but still could not let their guard down against – Manchester United.

The afternoon training ended very early; it ended exactly at the time of Tang En's appointment with Woox, at three-thirty.

Tang En stood within the halls of Building One, hidden in the shadows of the wall. He saw Billy Woox and George Wood discussing something as they walked in from the Training Grounds. The two of them had only just signed the agent contract, but they looked as if they had known each other for a long time.

Tang En pursed his lips and turned to walk back to his office.

Compared to the manager, the agent obviously had a closer, more intimate relationship with Wood. In the past, Tang En could still frequently chat with Wood. Now that there was Woox, the interactions between the two of them seemed to have reduced… Without Woox, if Wood was unhappy with his current income, he would have walked up directly to Tang En, telling him ”I want a raise.”

But now, Wood said nothing about what he thought of his own pay. Instead, he handed everything over to Woox to manage. Even if this little bit of pay was no big deal, what about the future? In the future, they still needed to discuss many issues. Would their discussions all be done through this overly calculative agent?

Tang En suddenly felt that his prior encouragements to Wood to find an agent were silly. Now that Wood had found one, Tang En only felt upset.

As he stared out the window at the desolate training grounds in a daze, a knock sounded from behind him.

”Enter.” Tang En turned and calmly watched Billy Woox enter the room. Compared with his own untamed appearance, the man before him seemed to be ever so meticulous. Tang En had never seen Woox with a single strand of hair out of place, or a wrinkle in his shirt or pants.

What a man of detail.

Tang En made such an appraisal of Woox in his heart.