The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 11: Renting and "being rented"

Upon arriving at Ferguson's home in Cheshire, Aldrich faced the legendary Scottish figure for the first time in person.

His initial impression was neither of an imposing figure commanding respect with vigorous authority, nor of a stern and forbidding presence that seemed capable of conjuring a tempest.

The Scottish gentleman was seated in a garden recliner, peacefully slumbering under the soft glow of the setting sun—more akin to a man reminiscing about past glories with an affectionate smile, having long since laid down his armor.

Dressed casually in a summer T-shirt, Ferguson was gently roused from his nap by the touch of his wife, Cathy.

Previously, he had mentioned that guests would be arriving at their home; yet, while waiting in the garden, he had succumbed to a blissful afternoon's rest.

Upon awakening, Ferguson rubbed his eyes and squinted toward the approaching visitor, failing to recognize him until he donned his glasses, which lay on a nearby table, allowing him to gather his wits.

Cathy placed a tray of tea on the table, and then quietly departed.

Inside his home, Ferguson preferred to avoid discussions related to football; had it not been for their beloved son's guest, he likely would not have agreed to meet Aldrich, much less in his own home.

Aldrich considered himself a person of simplicity; undeterred by the myriad standards shaped by geography, ethnicity, culture, or religion that often govern British interactions, he was open and willing to forge friendships with anyone, which allowed him to engage others with genuine ease and without pretense—his manners and demeanor were unembellished.

"Good day, Mr. Ferguson," Aldrich said with a smile as he greeted him.

Ferguson looked up, studying him intently, then signaled to Jason with a wave, indicating he preferred to discuss matters that were not meant for outsiders' ears.

When Ferguson engaged in conversation with Aldrich—who occupied the dual role of club owner and head coach—there were numerous subjects not suited for ears beyond their circle.

Even though Jason was Ferguson's son, in the strictest sense, he remained outside the realm of football's close-knit community.

This pertains to the traditionally conservative nature of British society; football is a relatively small fraternity, and regardless of whether it is public knowledge or a complex mystery, every detail ought to remain confined to that circle, hidden away in history.

Aldrich cast a glance at Andrew, silently urging him to accompany Jason out.

Andrew greeted Ferguson politely, who smiled and nodded, watching the two young men step into the house.

With a gesture, Ferguson invited Aldrich to take a seat across the table, where steaming tea awaited.

The British penchant for tea has nearly become their hallmark.

Over a century ago, it was the British aristocracy's fervent love for tea that led to a significant trade deficit with China, indirectly culminating in the Opium Wars, after which the British shamelessly pilfered Chinese tea cultivation techniques and varieties, establishing vast plantations in the East Indies.

After sharing a sip of tea, Aldrich and Ferguson began a casual conversation, primarily initiated by Ferguson's inquiries about Aldrich's recent endeavors.

As Ferguson sought to understand Aldrich's series of audacious actions since taking charge of the club, he appeared eager to discern the character of this stranger he was meeting for the first time.

Deep down, Ferguson harbored disdain for Aldrich, having formed a poor first impression.

No manager wishes to be caught off guard during a press conference with the announcement of a new owner—particularly one who appears suddenly, disrupting the status quo and forcing a coaching staff to resign in the process, which is a blatant affront to established norms.

Curiosity about Aldrich did linger for Ferguson; had it merely been the disintegration of Millwall's recently fallen squad, he might have simply ridiculed Aldrich to those around him, regardless of whether his son acted as an intermediary for the introduction.

However, the tumultuous transfer market activity surrounding Millwall over the past month had generated considerable intrigue, and while Ferguson traditionally paid little attention to Millwall's affairs, he had noticed something compelling in the news.

Millwall's summer recruitment, primarily focused on youth, had drawn his attention; even the average age of the new recruits was likely below a certain threshold. Yet, astutely discerning, Ferguson recognized that Aldrich was, in fact, assembling a new team!

Regardless of the players' abilities or prestige, the manner of their positioning collectively suggested the solid foundation of a cohesive unit.

Though Ferguson could not quite grasp all the nuances—many players' roles on the pitch remained undefined, especially since several were virtually unknown in English football, emerging seemingly from obscurity.

After all, the flow of information during that time lagged far behind what would emerge in the years to come.

Throughout his conversation with Ferguson, Aldrich exhibited neither pretense nor excessive caution; he expressed himself frankly and openly, revealing no reservations.

He even candidly admitted that his unexpected appearance at the press conference was intended to create discomfort for the team's coaches, prompting them to submit their resignations.

This was neither a show of intimidation nor a means of scaring others; instead, Aldrich simply required control over the team and understood the necessity of starting anew in order to establish a squad he could effectively manage.

As their dialogue progressed, Ferguson gradually set aside his prior misgivings about Aldrich. The other's role as both club owner and head coach, without resorting to draconian measures, undoubtedly posed considerable challenges.

It was not until twilight approached that Ferguson inquired about Aldrich's purpose for visiting.

After talking with Ferguson for over an hour, Aldrich finally managed to express his intentions with a wry smile.

"My squad is somewhat deficient at the moment, hence I wish to borrow players from Manchester United."

Ferguson scrutinized Aldrich with a peculiar expression, rejoining, "Why borrow rather than buy?"

The underlying implication was unmistakable.

Having already splurged over ten million pounds, surely there must be players he was interested in acquiring; why the hesitation in disbursing further funds?

Aldrich scratched his head and replied wryly, "To be candid, I have my sights set on many players, truly, but I simply cannot afford them, and those I covet likely will not come to me. Many of the players I currently have are relative unknowns, and even the notable ones are not mainstream stars from the top leagues."

Ferguson nodded, internally acknowledging that this young man was indeed rational and not the sort to flaunt wealth, believing it would compel everyone to succumb to him.

"Which players are you interested in? Perhaps I might actually be able to sell them to you."

At this, Aldrich was taken aback, then turned to behold the seemingly harmlessly grinning Scottish gentleman, comprehending with a wry smile that he was being jested with!

"Well, let's see— the Neville brothers, Scholes, Giggs, Beckham, and Nicky Butt— those few. Set the price; as long as it's under five million pounds, I'm interested."

What began as a jest was met with Ferguson's sudden gravitas.

The record for transfer fees in England was only 3.75 million pounds; yet here was Aldrich considering offering five million for these players?

"Are you suggesting a packaged deal for five million?"

"They're hardly bargain commodities. Each player at five million pounds. If you're willing to part with them, I'd go to great lengths to acquire them; how about it? Even if it can't all be arranged at once, surely one or two can be managed? It would set a new transfer record."

After uttering these words, Aldrich's face brightened, keenly watching Ferguson's reaction as he played his cards deftly!

Ferguson chewed thoughtfully, then suddenly sighed, "Which one do you wish to borrow?"

Aldrich had not anticipated the elder's cunning maneuver, directly diverting the topic.

"Beckham."

Ferguson mulled it over before asking, "What about playing time?"

"At least twenty matches."

"And the loan fee?"

"Millwall will handle the player's salary during the loan; nothing else."

After another bout of contemplation, Ferguson raised his head and stated, "I could offer you another player as well, along with twenty matches of playing time; what do you think?"

Aldrich frowned slightly; the elder was not only clever but was seemingly attempting to manipulate the situation to his advantage.

He was essentially offering his players free development while treating him like a professional service provider.

"Who?"

"Phil Neville."

Though Phil Neville, like Beckham, had risen to Manchester United's first team that summer, he too faced the same fate; unless loaned out, he would likely languish on the bench this season.

Phil Neville, a defender capable of playing both as a full-back and a defensive midfielder, found himself in a particularly scarce position within Aldrich's lineup, particularly in the midfield where he possessed Mark Makélélé and Patrick Vieira, along with 17-year-old Gattuso. These were burgeoning talents in need of ample game time; even at the risk of defeat, Aldrich would prefer to allow them the opportunity to develop.

Aldrich candidly remarked, "Mr. Ferguson, I can only say that if Manchester United were to loan Phil Neville to my team, next season he would exclusively play as a full-back."

Aldrich was unaware of Ferguson's specific development plans for Phil Neville; he merely articulated his position, allowing Ferguson to make the call.

"Very well. It's getting late; let's stay and share a dinner."

Ferguson rose to stretch, then invited Aldrich and Andrew to remain for a simple evening meal at his home.

The following day, Millwall officially announced the conclusion of the summer transfer window and informed that the team would commence preparation for the upcoming season on July 21st.