The Legendary Chairman Novel - Chapter 191

191 Something That Needs to Be Dealt with Right Now
After bidding farewell to the Leeds players and coaches, Zhong Cheng returned to the chairman’s office.

In the office, Zhong Cheng sat with the club’s executive CEO and vice-president, Trivo Burch, who had been busy this season, almost all of the club’s business. Zhong Cheng was more focused on coaching.

Trivor Burch is reporting to Zhong Cheng, saying: “This season, Leeds United has been very successful, not only in terms of results, but also in terms of operations. This is our Leeds United’s first profit in recent years, and it’s very lucrative!”

Zhong Cheng nodded. He had expected this.

At the beginning of the season, Zhong Cheng had just bought Leeds United. Before he became the head coach of Leeds United, Leeds United’s fans were very excited. Leeds United’s tickets were sold out very quickly.

Therefore, regardless of when, this season Ellen Road’s performance rate is very high, ticket money they are earning a lot of money and earn a lot of money.

Then there was the sponsorship fee for the chest advertisement from Emirates’ Fly Emirates, the sponsorship fee for the jersey from China’s Li Ning Sporting Goods Company, the prize money for each match, and the TV broadcasting share, which made Leeds United profitable.

You have to know, Leeds United are the champions of the Carling Cup and Champions League, these broadcast points are very high, they are the highest broadcast division in the Champions League, even higher than some Premier League teams broadcast fees.

Leeds United have not invested much this season. They have spent around £ 5 million in the transfer window this season and their salaries are not very high. This is not a big expense. Leeds United’s finances this season are very healthy.

However, Trevor Birch’s expression is not very good at the moment, he said: “Although we have made a lot of money this season and even surpassed a lot of Premier League teams, it is basically impossible for us to pay off our debts!”

Yes, Trevor Burch is worried about paying off his debts!

During the year, Zhong Cheng paid off some debts from time to time. When he first accepted it, Leeds United owed nearly 50 million pounds. Now, Leeds United owes 30 million pounds.

Leeds United are likely to go bankrupt if they fail to pay off their debts this season. This is definitely not something Trivor Birch would like to see and he has a lot of feelings for Leeds United right now.

Trevor Birch sees the future of Leeds United and believes they will be very successful if they continue to operate like this.

However, with so many debts on his head now, he was extremely worried!

Zhong Cheng said, “Don’t worry about that. Leave the debt to me. I am the chairman and owner of the team. I can solve this problem!”

Trevor Burch immediately asked, “What do you want to do?”

Zhong Cheng raised his hand and said, “You don’t have to worry about that. Don’t worry, we won’t sign any more debts from the start of the new season.”

Looking at Zhong Cheng’s appearance, Trivo Birch was extremely worried and hesitant to say anything!

–Division Line–

Zhong Cheng had his assistant, Julia Oliveira, make a cup of coffee for Trivo Burch.

Zhong Cheng himself was gently stirring the steaming coffee with a spoon, and his face instantly disappeared behind the steaming white mist.

Zhong Cheng said: “Originally, I was planning to spend a sum of money to renovate the club’s training base, add some training infrastructure, set up a data studio and a health care center.”

Hearing this, Trivo Burch was shocked and his face was filled with shock.

Trevor Birch immediately said, “Roja, isn’t this too quick? I think we should be safe. Don’t act like Peter Rizdale. It will cause financial chaos for our club and put a lot of unnecessary pressure on the club. It will collapse easily!”

Zhong Cheng nodded and said, “Yes, it is precisely because of this consideration that this plan has been temporarily suspended!”

Hearing Zhong Cheng’s words, Trivo Birch finally breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Zhong Cheng did not act rashly!

“However, from next season onwards, we will have to increase our commitment to the youth team. I hope that our Leeds United youth training will be a benchmark for the future of England and that our Leeds United youth training will be self-sufficient,” Zhong said.

Trivor Birch nodded. He agreed.

However, Trivo Birch cautioned: “This job can be done, but it needs to be done steadily. Don’t be impetuous and take it one step at a time!”

Zhong Cheng agreed, saying, “I know that. Don’t worry!”

Trivor Birch knew Zhong Cheng very well, and since he had said so, there would be no problem. He didn’t want some people to say it properly in front of him, so he turned around and forgot about it.

Suddenly Zhong Cheng also said: “There is another problem in the new season, and that is our club’s home court problem!”

Trivo Burch frowned when he heard this. When he heard this, he hated Gerald Krasna, Claire Simmons and the others who had sold Leeds United Club to Jack Petch for 4.2 million pounds of cabbage for their own benefit.

This bunch of damn rubbish is like a black sheep. You know, in 1998, Leeds United spent £ 10 million on the redemption of the Ellen Road Stadium from the Leeds Council. It’s been a few years and the value of the Ellen Road Stadium will only increase, not decrease.

This bunch of damned fellows were lucky. They directly sold the Ellen Road Stadium for less than half the price. This was really digging a hole for Zhong Cheng and his Trivo Birch.

Trevor Burch whispered, “Damn Krasna, a bunch of vampires!”

Zhong Cheng sighed and said, “It’s useless to say this now. We have to deal with the new season’s stadium.”

A successful team, a team that wants to be big and strong must have a stadium that belongs to their own team. Leeds United must have a stadium that belongs to their own team.

Trevor Burch immediately asked, “What are your plans?”

Zhong Cheng gently stirred the coffee in front of him. The heat had gradually dissipated, revealing Zhong Cheng’s resolute face.

Zhong Cheng said, “I have two plans!”

Trevor Burch immediately said, “Tell me!”

“In August 2001, Peter Rizdale, then president of the club, wrote an open letter to season ticket holders and shareholders outlining plans for the refurbishment of the Ellen Road Stadium and the possible relocation of the stadium,” Zhong said. There was a fate vote and only 13% of the 18,500 voters supported staying at Ellen Road and the rest were in favor of moving home!

Trivor Birch nodded his head. He knew about this period of time. This matter was very sensational at that time.

And immediately after the vote, Peter Rizdale announced that Leeds United would move to a new 50,000-seat stadium in Skelton in July 2011. The plan, which will start in 2004-05, was aborted in March 2003 when Peter Rizdale was sacked.

Trevor Burch said eagerly, “Are you going to move the team home to Skelton as well?”

Zhong Cheng shook his head and nodded. Trivo Birch was puzzled. Was this, or wasn’t it?

Zhong Cheng said, “This is only one option. The second option is to redeem the Ellen Road Stadium!”

Trivo Birch nodded. He knew what Zhong Cheng was thinking. Trevor Burch immediately asked, “Which idea do you prefer in your heart?”

After pondering for a moment, Zhong Cheng said, “I prefer to move to a new stadium. After all, it’s easier for Leeds United to mark me as one of the new places.” And around the new stadium, we can also build a very large Leeds United football theme park, where will become an extremely prosperous commercial entertainment and cultural integration of fashion center!

Hearing Zhong Cheng’s words, Trivo Birch also yearned for it.

However, if that was the case, Leeds United would definitely invest a lot of money. It could be said that Zhong Cheng also wanted to step into Peter Rizdale’s footsteps.

Looking at Trevor Birch’s pondering expression, Zhong Cheng immediately said, “Of course, we can also buy back the Ellen Road Stadium directly.” Because when Krasna Gerald and the others sold the Ellen Road Stadium, they were given a 25-year free lease and a buyback term. The sooner the buyback was made, the cheaper it would be. But even if we buy back the Ellen Road Stadium now, we still have to spend £ 5. 5 million!

Yes, in just a year’s time, the price of the Ellen Road Stadium has gone up by £ 1. 3m. What’s the difference between that and usury?

Trevor Burch hated Krasna Gerald and the rest of the vampires, damn rubbish!

“After buying back the Ellen Road Stadium, we will definitely renovate it because it is really too small now. Otherwise, Peter Rizdale would not have suggested it back then,” Zhong said.

There are more and more Leeds fans now, and more and more fans want to go to the stadium to watch the game. The Ellen Road Stadium is unable to meet the needs of Leeds fans now. It is imperative to renovate or move to a new home court.

That was why Zhong Cheng had come to discuss this matter with Trivo Birch.

Trevor Birch nodded. Indeed, the Ellen Road Stadium was still a little small. The stadium had to be renovated. After the renovation, the seats on the stadium had to be able to accommodate at least 50,000 people. Right now, the Ellen Road Stadium could only accommodate 40,000 people, so the gap was still quite large.

Trevor Birch immediately asked, “So, are you really going to move the stadium somewhere else?”

Zhong Cheng shook his head and said, “This is a big deal. Right now, my status and prestige in the hearts of Leeds United fans is not high. Many people have yet to accept me. If I move to the stadium at this time, it will definitely attract a big rebound!”

Trevor Birch nodded and said, “Then what?”

“Let’s do the same,” Zhong Cheng said. “Let’s write an open letter to the season ticket holders and staff of Leeds United and vote.”

Trevor Birch nodded slightly. This was a good idea!

Zhong Cheng said: “This matter had better be done as soon as possible, strive to solve this problem before the new season.”

Trevor Birch immediately said, “Well, don’t worry, I’ll do it right away!”