Before the annual grand meeting began, Richard had already met with John Maddock, the club's general manager.
"How's the transfer business going?" Richard asked.
"Just as instructed," John replied. "We've accepted requests and let go of the players who had offers on the table."
Kinkladze moved to Ajax for around £5M.
Nicky Summerbee moved to Sunderland for £100,000.
Club captain Kit Symons also departed for Fulham in a £400,000 deal.
Ray Kelly, John Burridge, David Rocastle, Mike Sheron, and Steve McMahon also moved, following their transfer requests, adding another £500,000 to the club's account.
Uwe Rosler had already left the club on a free transfer to Kaiserslautern.
Ian Brightwell decided to follow Rosler's lead, choosing not to renew his contract and moving to Coventry City.
"Is that all?" Richard asked.
"Yes, currently. Also," John then presented a document. "This is the list of players the current manager wants for next season."
Richard glanced at the paper and looked up at John Maddock in shock. "You're kidding me, right?"
Danny Tiatto from Baden, Ian Bishop from AFC Bournemouth, Danny Allsop from Port Melbourne Sharks.
Sighing, Richard closed the folder and decided to push forward with his plan. "Let's move on to the coaching staff. Give me all their résumés."
'Ah, here it comes,' John thought to himself before handing over the documents Richard had requested earlier.
The resumes were for five key people—Alan Ball and Joe Royle, of course, the first two—but Richard's focus was on the other three first. One was a middle-aged man with a mustache, the other a relatively young and handsome man.
"The mustached guy is our tactical coach, Robbie McGinn. He's been with the team for eight years. As you can see, he has a solid track record. Every time the manager changed, he stayed on with the new one." John introduced.
"Eight years? So, he was here when City dropped out twice in a row?"
"..."
"And he hasn't resigned yet? What is this, loyalty? Bullshit."
"..."
Richard suddenly squinted. "Hey, tell me something—when City first dropped to the First Division, why didn't Lee sack Ball? Friendship? Because if that's the case, that's messed up."
John smiled bitterly. "No, it wasn't that. It was because of the termination fees."
Richard was taken aback. "Are they really that severe?"
John nodded grimly. "Huge ones. And that's just for the current manager. All his coaching staff too. Their termination clauses are ridiculously steep."
"Wait, all of them? None left behind?"
"To ensure City entered a new era, the ex-chairman, Lee, allowed Manager Ball to bring his own team."
Richard was speechless. Indeed, this is how it has always been, but to clear everything out...
In most cases, a new manager might want to bring in their own staff, which could lead to the firing or reassignment of the current coaching team. However, it wasn't always the case that the entire staff would be let go when a manager was fired.
Sometimes, assistant coaches or other staff members stayed on, especially if the club wanted continuity or if the new manager was open to working with them.
The new manager also needed to rely on the advice of the existing coaches. The players knew that, so they often aligned themselves accordingly—sometimes out of strategy, sometimes just to stay in someone's good graces.
"...how much money can we use now?"
"Taking into account the £30 million loan, the most recent transfer activity, operational costs, relegation penalty, stadium expenses, and the debt due this quarter, we'll probably have about £6 million to use."
Richard frowned upon hearing this. Why does this seem so strange?
Shouldn't we have more than £6 million, considering the additional funds from the recent departures? Unless...
He gasped, 'Don't tell me the £30 million loan is already gone?! Fuck!!!'
Even though restrictions on excessive spending beyond club revenue had not yet been introduced, there were still practical financial constraints that clubs had to consider.
The most important factors were the rules about financial stability to prevent clubs from collapsing and the management of wage budgets, which could be a limiting factor.
The Board and Owners' Decision Board members had to approve spending, and many clubs were cautious about overspending, which could lead to financial trouble or even bankruptcy. However, this did not apply to the current Richard.
"Give me the number—how much to fire the entire coaching staff?" Richard said finally.
John's face scrunched up before he cautiously answered, "It's nearly a million."
Richard went silent for a moment before his eyes widened. "Assholes! These guys are just milking their contracts!"
The same complaint occurred, but this time in a different setting.
Richard spent a total of £13.5 million on South American players without informing Allan Ball, the current manager, halting all transfer activity and using the club's funds for personal transfers, which would have definitely caused an uproar...'if City were in the Premier League,'
In the second division?
Who cares?
Only the firms, ultras, or die-hard supporters would.
Alan Ball was the manager, Joe Royle served as the head coach, Ray Donard was the first-team coach, Robbie McGinn was the tactical coach, and Allensky was the physical coach.
They decided to hold their own meeting with the scouting department, led by Peter Pettigrew, who replaced Ken Barnes as the previous chief scout.
"Are you just going to sit back and let this happen, manager?" Pettigrew asked sharply.
"What are you talking about?" Ball replied flatly.
"Isn't it obvious, coach? The new owner clearly doesn't see us in a good light. Why else would he criticize us the moment we first meet? Also, the recent transfer..." Donard chimed in before stopping.
Pettigrew paused for a moment, thinking it over. "Then it's like he's saying, 'If you don't like it, hand in your resignation."
Ball responded with a sly grin and decided to give them a hint. "If we voluntarily resign, there's no termination fee to pay. It's so obvious. Right?"
Everyone seemed to get enlightened. "Oh, so we just wait for him to sack us? That way we get the compensation?"
Hearing this, Ball nodded and shook his head. "No matter what, if he really wants us to leave, then he needs to pay. Does he really dare mess with the termination clause in our contract? I want to make sure we've got something on him—or at least make him think twice before sacking us."
"So, that's how it is!" Everyone nodded in agreement.
"The problem now is..." Ball turned to the chief scout, Pettigrew. "What's the plan? The termination fees for the scouting department aren't that high, right?"
Pettigrew smirked, his expression unreadable. "What's there to be afraid of?"
'This mouse,' Alan Ball cursed under his breath. It seemed like he already had a plan brewing.
"The captain might stay neutral, but don't forget, I..." He pointed to himself. "I'm the one in control of most of the players. Remember that."
It took a moment for Ball to realize—almost all the players in the first team had been hand-picked by this "mouse."
"What are you saying? You want us to stir up a mutiny?"
"Not a mutiny. The players are individuals. They can push for changes to tactics and training on their own. But they'll follow my lead."
"You're pushing it too far. There's no need for that. Let's—"
"What are you saying? If we're safe in our positions, then nothing's going to happen. What matters is we still hold the power. That's the key."
"Hmm, true."
Everyone nodded, clearly convinced.
"Alright, that's enough for now. I've made my position clear. Are you both with me?"
"Of course, I'm in."
"I'm in too."
"Count me in."
"Yeah, same here."
To sum up, the biggest challenge at the current Manchester City isn't the rebuild or anything else, but how to deal with the internal factions.
These toxic environments can cripple even the wealthiest, most star-studded, most prestigious, and most elite clubs instantly.
And the worst part? You don't even realize it.
This parasitic culture creeps in slowly, piece by piece, and by the time you notice, it's already too late.
It's all about the foundation.
What starts as a small crack can quickly grow, sinking the ship to the bottom of the sea.
Where egos clash and ambition fades, even the most talented players lose their way. Division, mistrust, and frustration breed mediocrity.
It doesn't matter how much money is in the bank; individual brilliance becomes nothing more than a flickering flame in the darkness.
So right now, the top priority is figuring out how to eliminate these issues and establish full control over the players, the squad, and everyone else within the club.
"We need a new manager," Richard suddenly said, looking toward John Maddock in front of him. "A replacement for Alan Ball next season."
"Are you willing to pay the severance, £1 million?"
"Let's discuss that later. For now, the manager first."
"Do you have any candidates?"
"I have two in mind. Come with me to meet them."
Richard's Porsche roared as they headed toward London Heathrow Airport.
Their destination?
France, Monaco.
Monaco, a principality blessed with picturesque scenery and a temperate climate along the Mediterranean, becomes a bustling tourist destination during the summer months.
Richard landed at Monaco's Nice Côte d'Azur Airport with John in the late afternoon, the warm Mediterranean air greeting him as he stepped off the plane.
He wasted no time, his mind focused on the task at hand. After quickly arranging a taxi, he was soon on his way to a hotel located near Stade Louis II, the iconic home of AS Monaco.
The next morning, after a quick and discreet breakfast in his room, Richard left the hotel dressed in casual sports attire, with his hands tucked in his pockets and sunglasses perched on his nose, with John by his side. They walked to a quiet café tucked away on a corner of the street.
"Coffee first?" John asked as Richard pushed open the door.
Richard glanced back. "Yeah, and the manager candidate is already here."
In a corner booth, a refined gentleman nearing his fifties stares dreamily out the window, not forgetting to sip his espresso.
Richard approaches, removing his sunglasses to reveal a warm, sunny smile. "Mr. Wenger?" he greeted, extending his hand.
The man sitting across from Aldrich is none other than Arsène Wenger, the current manager of Monaco. Even though his name wasn't as globally synonymous with success as it would later become, Richard believed he was the right choice—of course, if he accepted.
"Mr. Maddox," Wenger greeted with a polite nod, his French accent smooth as ever. "And this is...?"
"This is City's current General Manager, John Maddock," Richard said, gesturing toward John, who stood beside him and offered a handshake.
Wenger looked at Richard and John Madock with a perplexed expression. 'General manager? Why go with that? Isn't everyone using the term CEO these days?'
John smiled warmly, extending his hand. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Wenger," he said.
Wenger won the Ligue 1 title in his first season, and established Monaco as one of the top three clubs in French football. They would also win a Coupe de France under his management, and reach the final of the 1992 European Cup Winners Cup final and the semi-finals of the 1994 Champions League.
Just by this achievement alone, you could already guess.
"Mr. Maddox, I am so sorry, but I must refuse your invitation," Wenger said in a low voice, emphasizing his decision.
"Is it because City is playing in the Second Division?" Richard asked, his voice calm but with a hint of curiosity.
Wenger shook his head. "No, it's not about that," he replied, his tone thoughtful. "You see, football, for me, is never just about tactics or transfers. It's about creating a philosophy, a way of thinking that seeps into every corner—from the boardroom to the dressing room. This is what creates a lasting foundation. Only then can you truly build something meaningful."
Richard leaned in slightly, the weight of the conversation hanging in the air. "Then we're on the same page. The current City needs someone who understands that vision, someone who can rebuild the foundation."
Wenger paused, folding his hands in front of him as he thought for a moment. "Mr. Maddox, what I'm saying is it's about creating something that will last. It's a long-term project. A philosophy that will take years to bear fruit."
Richard was confused by this. "Yes, then I am prepared to support it, provide the resources, and commit to rebuilding."
Wenger looked at Richard for a moment, skeptically thinking, 'Does he know, or is he pretending not to?"' But looking at his face, it seemed he genuinely hadn't caught on.
With a sigh, Wenger decided to be a little more direct.
"Mr. Maddox," Wenger began, speaking clearly, "Monaco is a club with incredible potential. The infrastructure is here. The youth system is strong. We have many good players; it's just that we don't have the mental strength to win when it matters most. That's where my focus is now—developing a winning mentality."
Only then did Richard realize. That's why he mentioned so much nonsense about philosophy, long-term projects, or whatever it is.
Simply put, his project at Monaco was already underway, and he didn't want to abandon it now.