Millwall has been very busy throughout the summer.
The official TV station is online, the official website is promoted, the youth training base is expanded, new sponsorship contracts are signed, strategic partnerships are established with some well-known British companies, club signings are added, etc.
As the club's CEO, Adam is extremely busy. Although the management team has also expanded in size, he has too much work and cannot take a day off.
As soon as Aldrich returned, Adam came to the door in a hurry.
He asked Aldridge: "Boss, are our signings over?"
Aldrich happened to be looking for him, but the other party took the initiative to come to the door. He was so happy that when he asked him, he shrugged and said: "It's over."
Adam slapped his forehead and said anxiously: "But you still have ten million pounds left in your transfer fee budget! Let's buy another well-known star. This will be very effective in increasing the club's influence and attracting outside attention."
Adam didn't understand the competitive aspects and didn't need to understand, so he spoke very straightforwardly.
After thinking for a while, Aldrich shook his head and said: "No, there is no need to spend money just for the sake of spending money. Although buying famous stars will increase the team's influence, in the long run, it will do more harm than good. I want to
Let young players see the hope of competing for the main spot, and don't want to waste energy on rebuilding order in the locker room."
Buying football stars sounds simple, just buy it if you have money.
But Aldridge doesn't think so, especially for stars. The higher the transfer fee, the more subconsciously the star's self-identity is important. Aldridge doesn't need to gamble.
Adam sighed and sat down, no longer forcing himself.
I just feel that this boss has gone too far in his calculations. Although Millwall is strong as a whole and has a championship, it is just like their tactical philosophy, which promotes teamwork.
The entire team looks very strong, but looking at each player individually, I don't think they have big-name stars. Larsson and Nedvěd can barely count, let alone the defensive players. In this era, defensive players can become big-name stars.
There are only a handful of stars.
Aldrich took out a document and handed it to Adam. He said, "Look at this."
Adam took the document and opened it. It was an introduction document for the Children's Fund. The organization is headquartered in London and its background is an independent non-profit charity organization under the Baa Group.
Adam looked thoughtful, Baa Group is an industry of the Hall family. It was established by Barnett and has gained considerable popularity in the UK and even 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? To bring positive publicity to the club?"
Aldridge blinked and smiled: "Yes and no. If you donate money directly, the publicity effect will be temporary. I want to organize a youth football charity cup for under 15 years old under the sponsorship of Millwall Club. Background of the participating teams
No limit, amateur teams or school teams are allowed. However, participating players must not be over 15 years old. The champion team can get 5
A bonus of 10,000 pounds, and an additional 500,000 pounds will be donated to the Children's Charity Foundation in the name of the championship team. Including the organization expenses of the event, the cost should be about 1 million pounds. I hope this event will be held every year. I and the English Football Association
The boss said hello there and they said this is not a professional football match and as long as there is no trouble, we can decide the rules on our own."
Adam's eyes immediately lit up when he heard this. Although the cost is a bit high, there are definitely many benefits in terms of club image promotion and local influence.
It is especially attractive to participating teams. The winner will receive a bonus of 50,000 pounds and can also do good deeds in the name of the team. This is a double gain of fame and fortune.
The most effective way to promote a positive team image is to do good deeds.
Players affiliated with Andrew's agency will follow Andrew's advice and visit orphans or injured fans during holidays at the end of the season or during the season. At the same time, the agency helps them set up personal Internet sites, although Internet technology has not yet developed to Twitter. The book is 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 entered the promotion stage, so Andrew also opened a personal website for the players and had a job. Staff help them maintain it, upload some photos from time to time, and occasionally write short articles like "diaries", which will attract the attention of many fans.
Among the football clubs in the Premier League and even in Europe, no club has done a better job of keeping pace with the times than Millwall. Their official website has been vigorously promoted since its launch and now has nearly 100,000 registrations. Members have also opened up online mail order souvenir sales channels. After replacing 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 launch of a review program of Aldridge's coaching experience in the past three years, and the official website providing introductory videos, the sales of video tapes and CDs have shown a hot trend in more than a month. Those Millwall New fans who want to know about Millwall's past history are very interested in the official retrospective program, and they can keep it as a souvenir after buying it.
"Boss, the people over at Puma have proposed launching a new set of jerseys for the new season. Wouldn't you consider it again?"
Adam's first priority is to make money for the club. Aldrich directly vetoed this matter at the end of last season. Now he wants to fight for it. From his standpoint, he supports Puma's proposal.
Aldridge did not change his mind, and said calmly: "Forget it, the jersey sponsor has not changed, the chest advertising sponsor has not changed, and our team emblem has not changed. Why do we need to release a new jersey? We really need to do this. Yes, all fools know that we are trying different ways to make money from the fans, which is bad for our reputation. If Puma is dissatisfied, they should blame themselves for not specifying the terms of a new jersey every season in the contract. Next summer , the sponsorship of jerseys and chest advertisements will expire. I don’t want to continue to follow up on this matter. You will take over the whole thing. Adam, I don’t ask you to be a business wizard. My requirements for you are also very simple: Don't make a penny less than you should earn. If you can make more, it's your ability, and I will be happy. However, if the club only wants to make money and makes the fans dissatisfied, the club will not stand against the fans when the sky is angry and people are complaining. position."
Aldrich's words made Adam look serious. After nodding heavily, he stood up and left.
The money made by football clubs naturally comes from the fan market. Fans watch games, fans buy tickets, fans buy jerseys, and fans buy souvenirs. Through the attention paid to the football club, the football club has commercial influence, and the advertising value is directly related to Linked to fan market influence.
This is all based on the loyalty of fans. Maybe it is not just a fan, but a family or several generations.
The boss of Manchester United, whether it is Edwards now or Glazer in the future, has been scolded by Manchester United fans. The root cause is Manchester United's excessive commercialization. They wish they could even charge for the air at Old Trafford and for game tickets.
The price keeps rising, leaving Old Trafford without even half of its local fans in the stands.
Millwall also needs to make money, but Aldridge feels there should be a bottom line, because his status 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 mixture of love and hate, and such emotions will divide the fan group and cause many unnecessary conflicts and disputes.
From the establishment of the Premier League to the summer of 1997, the ticket prices of each team have increased, and some have even doubled or tripled. Millwall's ticket prices have also increased during the same period, but the price of Millwall's tickets has not.
It ranks 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.
Fans can also accept this. They understand that the club needs to improve its competitiveness. Naturally, it must not lag behind other teams in terms of income. Moreover, the increase in ticket prices is not large. In addition, it is located in London and is a London Premier League team.
The ticket price is only higher than Wimbledon, and may be a little higher than their other rival Crystal Palace next season, but this allows fans to accept it and taunt other neighbors: We spend less than you.
But it is a more exciting game than what you have seen, a championship-level game!
Because of this, Aldridge is unanimously supported by fans, and the Hall family is also admired here.
The day before season training, Aldrich 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 debut, they also brought them two.
Gudjohnsen underwent a medical examination at the club. At first, Millwall's medical department could not diagnose the strange injury to his ankle. Then they took him to a cooperative expert for examination and found out that
He suffered from a type of tendonitis in his ankle joint that was difficult to diagnose. Once the cause was found, the right treatment could be prescribed. He recovered well. The most important thing was that he was in good spirits 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 point where he can compete.
The four players appeared at the press conference with their new jerseys. Because they are not big names and have zero visibility in the Premier League, they do not have to show off their skills to the fans.
Reporters attending the meeting showed little interest in these four players, and Fleet Street thought Millwall's summer signings were abysmal!
Recruiting Van der Meyde from Ajax may be considered a good deal worthy of praise. After all, Ajax produces a product with guaranteed quality.
Duff, who spent two million pounds as the club's top signing in the summer, performed well in the World Youth Championship, but he only made seven appearances in the Premier League. A star? He is far from establishing himself.
Klose is a complete unknown. When Fleet Street found out about his origins, Aldridge was immediately speechless.
He previously played for a German amateur club. This tall and lanky guy is already 19 years old. Is Millwall planning to open a scrap recycling bin?
The most criticized thing is the signing of Gudjohnsen.
Will Millwall still be shameless for a player whose contract was terminated by PSV?
You are the Premier League champions, can you stop embarrassing yourself like rag pickers?
It was also learned that the reason for the termination was that Gudjohnsen was suffering from injuries, and Fleet Street directly gave a summary of Millwall's summer transfer signings.
"Crippled, crippled, few, weak!"
Gudjohnsen-disabled.
Klose - useless.
Duff-less.
Van der Meyde - weak.
Against this background, Aldridge, who has always been a celebrity on Fleet Street, was given the cold shoulder by reporters.
No one wanted to ask about these four players.
So what if I ask?
Published in a newspaper?
Who the hell, look!
There was silence.
Aldrich's face became a little embarrassed. (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature, the novel is better and updated faster!
