81: Season summary

On the eve of the decisive battle, the Phoenix Training Center was so quiet that one could hear the dew evaporating from the grass.

The opponent for the final League match was Bury.

Win, and we are champions.

In the air of Hartlepool town, tension and anticipation were twisted into a knot, so tight it made people anxious.

Lin Feng, however, did not appear by the training ground; he didn't even disturb Old John and the players during their final preparations.

In the largest and most advanced conference room at the Phoenix Training Center, the projector's beam cut a bright band of dust through the air.

Lin Feng sat at the head of the table, his fingers silently tapping the smooth surface.

Opposite him sat the true core backbone of the club.

Old accountant John Stone, the white hairs at his temples seemed fewer than at the beginning of the year, and his back was straighter.

Youth Training Director David Pulis, a seasoned coach poached from Boro, had a hint of barely concealed excitement on his face.

The newly appointed Sporting Director, Richard Arnold, a man in his forties with sharp eyes, a professional manager who had spent half his life in English football.

There were also several department heads responsible for business and marketing, each with a steaming cup of coffee in front of them.

“One season, down to the very last day.”

Lin Feng spoke, his voice not loud, but it made everyone instinctively sit up straight.

“On the competitive front, we won the EFL Trophy, eliminated three Premier League teams in the League Cup, and fought Manchester United to the last minute in the FA Cup.”

“The League Championship, after tomorrow, will also be displayed in our trophy room.”

He did not use a question, but a declarative tone, as if the trophy was already within reach.

The conference room was quiet, with only his calm voice echoing.

“John.”

Lin Feng’s gaze turned to the old accountant.

John Stone adjusted his reading glasses, picked up the financial report he had read no less than twenty times, his hands trembling slightly from excitement.

“Boss… According to the latest calculations, after deducting all expenses and reserved bonuses, our club currently has over three million pounds in liquid assets in its account.”

“That’s three million pounds in… profit.”

He emphasized the last two words, his voice choked with emotion.

A year ago, he was frantically dealing with tens of thousands of pounds of club debt, preparing to file for bankruptcy.

And now, they had become one of the wealthiest clubs in the entire lower-tier League of England.

Lin Feng nodded, seemingly unsurprised by the number.

His gaze turned to David Pulis.

“David, what about youth training?”

“Incredible, Boss.” David Pulis’s voice was full of enthusiasm, “The U16 and U18 teams both won their respective regional Leagues, and we have selected over a dozen very promising talents from hundreds of registered children, among whom two or three, I believe, with a little polishing, even have a chance to establish themselves in the first team in the future.”

He was referring to the several B-grade potential players that Lin Feng had “specially taken care of.”

Lin Feng’s gaze swept over the new Sporting Director, Richard Arnold.

“Richard, you’ve been here for two months, how do you feel?”

This experienced football manager’s eyes gleamed with the unique light of a professional.

“Boss, in my twenty years of work, I have never seen a club like Hartlepool undergo such a massive transformation in a single season.”

“Whether it’s competitive results, financial status, or the increase in brand value, it can be called a business miracle.”

Lin Feng smiled slightly, and he pressed the projector’s remote control.

On the large screen in the conference room, the image changed.

It was no longer financial reports or player data.

Instead, it was an exquisitely rendered architectural blueprint.

It was a modern and streamlined training base, at least twice the size of the current Phoenix Training Center.

“This is the plan for the second phase of the Phoenix Training Center.”

“On the existing foundation, we will expand with an all-weather indoor training hall, a youth training dormitory building capable of accommodating all academy players, and a research center equipped with the most advanced sports science equipment.”

“Construction will begin immediately after the season ends.”

“The budget is two and a half million pounds.”

A collective gasp echoed in the conference room.

John Stone’s mouth was wide enough to fit an egg; he could hardly believe his ears.

Richard Arnold, the Sporting Director who was used to big scenes, couldn’t help but lean forward, staring intently at the blueprint on the screen, his eyes filled with shock.

This was no longer the scale of a League Two, or even a League One club.

This was the setup of a Premier League giant.

But the shock Lin Feng brought them was far from over.

He pressed the remote control again.

The image on the screen switched to an even grander, more breathtaking building.

It was a modern, professional football stadium with a cutting-edge design, its exterior resembling a coiled giant dragon.

The stadium’s facade was a blue and white dragon scale structure, shimmering in the sunlight, full of power and visual impact.

Below the blueprint, a prominent line of large text.

“Northern Dragon Arena – Hartlepool United Football Club’s Future Home.”

“Capacity, thirty-five thousand people.”

Lin Feng’s voice, in the deathly silent conference room, sounded like a massive stone dropped into a calm lake.

“Next season, our goal is to establish ourselves in League One and push for the promotion play-offs.”

“Within two to three years, we will be promoted to the Championship.”

“Within five years, we want the name of Hartlepool United to appear on the Premier League League table.”

“And this stadium will be our fortress for future campaigns in the Premier League, and even challenging Europe.”

“This is my ‘Northern Football Empire’ blueprint, which I share with you all today.”

In the entire conference room, you could hear a pin drop.

John Stone’s mouth was agape; he was completely speechless, feeling his heart about to leap out of his throat.

David Pulis and the Marketing Manager, among others, were completely awestruck by the grand blueprint Lin Feng described; they looked at the “Northern Dragon” on the screen, feeling as if they were personally participating in the creation of a legend.

Richard Arnold’s eyes burst with an unprecedented light.

He had originally thought that coming to Hartlepool was just a stable job at the end of his career.

But at this moment, he knew he was wrong.

He had joined not a small League Two club.

But a football empire on the verge of rising.

His ambition and passion, which had long cooled deep within him, were completely ignited at this moment.

At the end of the meeting, Lin Feng turned off the projector, and the conference room returned to brightness.

He stood up, his gaze sweeping over each core member who had been overwhelmingly stunned by his blueprint.

He concluded the meeting with an incredibly firm tone.

“Tomorrow, we will witness a historic moment for Hartlepool United.”

“No matter what difficulties we encounter, we must believe in our team, believe in our players.”

“Because we are champions!”

“We deserve that trophy!”