Two Hundred and Thirty Seventh Disabled and Weak

Throughout the summer, the Millwall club was very busy.

The official TV station was launched, the official website was promoted, the youth training base was expanded, new sponsorship contracts were signed, strategic partnerships were established with some well-known British companies, and club signings were added.

As the club's CEO, Adam was so busy that he was dizzy. Although the management team had also expanded in size, he was too busy to rest for a day.

As soon as Aldridge came back, Adam rushed to the door immediately.

He asked Aldridge: "Boss, is our signing over?"

Aldridge was just looking for him, but the other party came to the door on his own initiative. He was overjoyed when he asked him this question, shrugged and said, "It's over."

Adam slapped his forehead and said anxiously: "But you still have 10 million pounds left in your transfer fee budget! Let's buy another famous star. This is very effective in enhancing the club's influence and attracting the attention of the outside world."

Adam doesn't understand and doesn't need to understand things at the competitive level, so he speaks very straightforwardly.

After thinking for a while, Aldrich shook his head and said: "No, there is no need to spend money for the sake of spending money. Although buying famous stars will increase the influence of the team, in the long run, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. I want to Let the young players see the hope of the main competition, and don't want to spend energy rebuilding the order of the locker room."

Buying football stars sounds simple, just buy them if you have money.

But Aldridge doesn't think so, especially for stars, the higher the transfer fee, the more subconsciously the star has the importance of self-identity, and Aldridge can't afford to gamble.

Adam sighed and sat down, no longer reluctant.

I just feel that the boss is too careful and careful. Although Millwall is strong overall. There is also a champion. But just like their tactical philosophy, they advocate the team.

The whole team looks very strong, but looking at each player individually, I don’t think they have big-name stars. Larson and Nedved are barely half of them, let alone defensive players. In this era, defensive players can become big-name players. There are only a handful of stars.

Aldridge took out a document and handed it to Adam. Say, "Look at this."

Adam took the file and opened it,

This is an introduction document of UNICEF, headquartered in London, the background is an independent non-profit public welfare organization under the baa group.

Adam looked thoughtful, the baa group is the industry of the Hall family, it was established by Barnett, and it has already gained a lot of popularity in the UK and even in Europe.

Adam's head turned quickly, and he said: "The boss wants to donate money to this children's charity fund in the name of the team? Bring a positive publicity effect to the club?"

Aldrich blinked and said with a smile: "Yes and no. If XS directly donates money, the publicity effect is temporary. I want to organize a charity cup for youth football under the age of 15 with the sponsorship of Millwall Club. The participating teams The background is not limited, amateur teams or school teams are acceptable. But the participating players must not be over 15 years old, the champion team can get a prize of 50,000 pounds, and another 500,000 pounds will be donated to the Children's Charity Foundation in the name of the champion team , counting the event organization fee, the cost should be around one million pounds. I hope this event will be held every year. I have spoken to the FA. They said that this is not a professional football event. As long as there is no trouble, we will It can decide its own constitution."

Adam's eyes lit up when he heard the words. Although the cost is a bit high, it definitely has a lot of benefits in terms of club image promotion and local influence.

Especially for participating teams, it is also very attractive. The champion has a prize of 50,000 pounds and can do good deeds in the name of the team. This is both fame and fortune.

The most effective way to positively promote the team's image is to do good deeds.

Players belonging to Andrew's agency will follow Andrew's advice and visit orphans or injured fans at the end of the season or during the season's vacation. Books are so advanced, and there are not many portals with community interaction. However, Barnett has acquired a website similar to a personal blog in the United States, and it has entered the publicity stage, so Andrew also opened personal websites for players, and there are jobs. Staff help them maintain, upload some photos from time to time, and occasionally write short articles like "diary", which will attract the attention of many fans.

Among the football clubs in the Premier League and even in Europe, there is no club that keeps pace with the times better than Millwall. Their official website has been vigorously promoted since it was launched, and now it has nearly 100,000 registered members , It also opened up a souvenir sales channel for online mail order. After replacing the larger server equipment, at least the cost of website operation can be self-sufficient from online sales.

Coupled with the launch of the official TV station in the summer, the review program of Aldridge’s coaching team in the past three years was launched, and the official website provides brief introduction videos. The sales of video tapes and CDs have shown a hot trend in the past month or so. New fans, who want to know about Millwall's past history, are very interested in the official retrospective program, and they can cherish it as a souvenir when they buy it.

"Boss, the people from Puma proposed to launch another set of jerseys in the new season, don't you think about it?"

Adam's first priority is to make money for the club. At the end of last season, Aldridge directly vetoed this matter. Now he still wants to fight for it. From his standpoint, he supports Puma's proposal.

Aldridge did not change his mind, and said lightly: "Forget it, the sponsor of the jersey has not changed, the sponsor of the chest advertisement has not changed, and our team logo has not changed. Why do we need a new set of jerseys? Really? Now, idiots know that we are changing ways to make money from fans, which is not good for our reputation. If Puma is dissatisfied, blame them for not specifying the clause in the contract for a new jersey every season. Next summer , the sponsorship of jerseys and chest advertisements will expire. I don’t want to follow up on this matter anymore. You will take over the whole thing. Adam, I don’t ask you to be a business genius, and my request to you is very simple: The money that should be earned. Don’t make less money. You can earn more. It’s your ability, I will be happy, but if the club just wants to make money and make fans dissatisfied, when the sky is angry, the club will not stand against the fans position."

Aldridge's words made Adam look serious, and after nodding heavily, he got up to leave.

The money that football clubs make naturally comes from the fan market. Fans watch games, fans buy tickets, fans buy jerseys, fans buy souvenirs, and through attention to football clubs, football clubs have commercial influence, and the advertising value is directly linked to the influence of the fan market.

This is all based on the loyalty of the fans. Maybe it's not just the fans alone, it's a family, generations.

Manchester United boss. Whether it is the current Edwards or the future Glazer, they have been scolded bloody by Manchester United fans. The root cause is Manchester United's excessive commercialization. They wish they could even charge for the air in Old Trafford, and the price of tickets will rise again and again, so that in the future, there will not be even half of the local fans in the stands of Old Trafford.

Millwall also needs to make money, but Aldridge thinks there should be a bottom line, because his identity is very special, in addition to being the head coach, he is also the owner. If Millwall becomes Manchester United, fans can scold Edwards and like Ferguson , but what about Aldridge? It really becomes a love-hate relationship, and such emotions will split the fan base and cause many unnecessary conflicts and disputes.

From the establishment of the Premier League to the summer of 1997, the tickets of all teams have been rising, and some have even doubled or tripled. Millwall's tickets have also risen during the same period, but the price of Millwall's tickets Ranked outside the top ten of all clubs in the Premier League, the fundamental reason is that the stadium is small and the conditions are poor.

And this, the fans can also accept it, they understand that the club needs to improve its competitiveness, and naturally it must not lag behind other teams in terms of income, and the increase in ticket prices is not large, plus it is located in London, it is a London Premier League team The middle ticket price is only higher than Wimbledon's, and it may be a little higher than their other rival Crystal Palace next season, but these instead allow the fans to take it out to mock other neighbors while accepting it: We spend less than you, But it was a more exciting game than what you have seen, a championship-level game!

Because of this, Aldridge is unanimously supported by the fans, and the Hall family is also admired here.

The day before the season training camp, Aldridge held a press conference with four players.

Duff, van der Meyde, Gudjohnsen, Klose.

Two of them, Van der Meyde and Klose, Aldridge originally planned to let them go to the youth team to integrate into the team first, but considering that this was an opportunity for new players to make their debut, he brought them both.

Gudjohnsen underwent a medical examination at the club. At first, Millwall's medical department really couldn't diagnose his weird ankle injury, and then took him to a partner specialist for an examination. His ankle suffered from a kind of tendinitis that was difficult to diagnose. If the cause was found, he could prescribe the right medicine. He recovered well. The most important thing was that he was in a good mental state and full of hope for his future.

It's just that his body has been delayed in training due to injuries in the past six months, and it may take some time to recover to the level where he can compete.

Four players appeared at the press conference with their new jerseys. Because they are not big names and their popularity in the Premier League is zero, the procedure of showing their skills to fans was omitted.

The reporters at the meeting were not interested in these four players, and Fleet Street thought Millwall's summer signings were terrible!

Poaching Van der Meyde from Ajax may be considered a commendable good deal. After all, Ajax produces products with guaranteed quality.

Duff, who spent two million pounds as the summer club's signing king, performed well in the World Youth Championship, but only played seven times in the Premier League. Star? He is far from standing still.

Klose is completely unknown. When Fleet Street inquired about his background, he was speechless to Aldrich.

He played for the German amateur club before, and this tall and thin man is already 19 years old. Is Millwall planning to open a waste recycling station?

The most criticized is Gudjohnsen's signing.

The player who was voluntarily terminated by Eindhoven, Millwall still shameless?

You are the champions of the Premier League, can you stop going outside like a scavenger to make a fool of yourself!

It was also learned that the reason for the termination of the contract was that Gudjohnsen was troubled by injuries, and Fleet Street directly made a summary of Millwall's summer transfer and signings.

"Crippled, useless, few, weak!"

Gudjohnsen Remnant.

Klose is useless.

Duff less.

Van der Meyde is weak.

In this context, Aldrich, who has always been a celebrity on Fleet Street, was left in the cold by the reporters.

No one wanted to ask about the four players.

So what?

Published in a newspaper?

Who the hell is watching!

There was silence.

Aldrich's face became a little embarrassed.