Four hundred thousand a year might be an inconceivable number to many people, but for Lynch, that’s probably the amount he can earn in three to five days or a week—just a bit of humility in expression.
In fact, a minor fluctuation in the financial markets can bring profits surpassing this number, but as a person, it’s important to remain humble.
However, he wasn’t aware that the pride on Kane’s face wasn’t because he could only see such a small amount of money. Maybe his position indeed doesn’t allow him to see higher places, but even so, it’s very rare for a professional club to maintain healthy financial conditions, let alone profitability.
Many large professional clubs frenetically burn money each year. What the managers, chairmen, and investors of these big clubs are really interested in is not the sport itself but the extra value that sports extend.
They might indeed be making money, but it’s money earned from elsewhere. For instance, many board members of big clubs in some way run businesses related to sports goods, which is a relatively common situation.
Blind consumer favor leads them to prefer "what stars wear" over "what they need" when selecting products, and this does not only exist in sports but also in the fashion circle.
This also results in many goods becoming mere collectibles after they’re sold, as these goods are not the most suitable for people.
There’s also a situation where a club’s chairman or shareholder may have just discovered a gold mine in his remote mountain, suddenly becoming rich.
Entering the upper class is not easy for these nouveau riches. They need something to embellish themselves, at least to make themselves look indistinguishable from the people around them, rather than an out-of-place upstart.
If we don’t discuss the purpose of these people managing clubs or the ways they make money, solely from the club’s perspective, the bigger the club, the harder it is to achieve profitability.
"That’s fantastic; it shows you’re doing a great job as the club manager. Handing over the club to you for management gives me peace of mind!" Lynch did not show any disdain for the forty thousand; after all, it’s money, and he likes money, no matter how much.
Next, he remembered another matter, "I recall you haven’t renewed your contract with the club, right?"
These words made Kane pause and then start to feel nervous because he indeed hadn’t renewed his contract with the club.
Previously, he worked for the club with sheer enthusiasm, of course receiving minimum subsidies from the United Transport Association. Lynch acquired the club and didn’t think of this matter until Vera gave him a call before he left the Federation.
The call discussed the club’s financial situation, the salary paid to Kane every month, and since the employment relationship between the two parties didn’t continue, this expense posed some potential controversies.
Whether it’s a salary expense, a necessary club fee, or for some other use.
This involves tax issues, and Lynch originally planned to discuss it with Kane, but he was too busy at the time and overlooked it. Now, seeing Kane, he remembered it.
Kane was very nervous, and Coach Manson, sitting beside him, also straightened up a bit, feeling somewhat anxious.
He worked well with Kane, who was a very pure club manager, the kind who seemed a bit foolish, somewhat silly, and an idealistic passionate middle-aged man in others’ eyes, yet very knowledgeable.
This almost fulfills all club coaches’ "desires" for managers; they don’t like those more professional business operators who are cold and ruthless, who treat the club and players, and the team like a business, devoid of sentiment, seeing everything tied to money.
If Lynch were to replace Kane, it could be a major blow to the newly ambitious Manson stepping into the professional coaching circle, possibly altering his future coaching career.
"Relax, I won’t fire you!" Lynch noticed the unusual behavior of the two and reassured them, "Earlier, the company’s chief financial officer told me Kane hadn’t renewed his contract with the club, so we have to pay extra taxes for the salary paid to you..."
Policies vary slightly in different places, but overall, people still encourage capitalists to employ more workers, which would provide more job opportunities for society, thus raising the overall income and happiness of the populace.
Therefore, salary expenses are deducted from the taxable profit figure. To put it simply, if a company earns a hundred yuan a year, with twenty being used to pay wages, then their taxes are calculated based on profits of a hundred minus twenty, or eighty, for the relevant calculations, rather than a hundred.
But due to the issues between the club and Kane, they can’t prove these funds are for salary expenses, so they still have to pay tax on this expense. Although it’s not much, hence Lynch might have forgotten this matter, as the tax payable was too small to make it memorable.
Upon hearing this, Kane finally took a sigh of relief, "Do we need to sign an additional contract?"
Lynch nodded slightly, "Of course..."
He actually had another thought, but now wasn’t the right time to mention it.
Soon, the bus stopped outside the hotel, where only a few female players were waiting; the male players were doing final preparations and relaxation.
As the club didn’t need to buy stars, it replaced that expense with physiotherapists to ensure these athletes, who collided recklessly to enter the professional rugby field, could go further.
They help the athletes adjust their physical condition and then face tomorrow’s game.
"Are all female players here?" Lynch was somewhat curious, seemingly so.
Manson and Kane exchanged looks, Kane explained, "We’re fighting in a foreign place. Although some fans came along, the numbers are still not advantageous, so..."
Lynch nodded, not waiting for him to finish, "I understand, you decide such matters yourselves..."
Eventually, the female captain looked very disappointed as Lynch left accompanied by the manager; she thought this was a good opportunity.
"Not everyone falls for this!" This is what Coach Manson said to the female captain before leaving.
Actually, Lynch’s club isn’t as "clean" as he sees; there’s no shortage of sordid intrigues inside. Just that both Kane and Manson can handle these, which is why Lynch isn’t aware.
But not knowing doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, like her predecessor, who messed around with the male team’s vice-captain under her design, then both were fired.
Though there’s no clear evidence proving she designed all this, everyone knows who did it, and under such circumstances, she managed to become the female captain. Besides roping in teammates who’ve put all their thinking nutrition into their chests, she’s passionate about women’s rights, so...
The next day, the pre-season championship game started. The local mayor, having learned of Lynch’s arrival, specially invited him to join him at the best stand in the venue.
As a highly commercialized city, Benlit’s stadium also exhibits different features compared to others, like those large, famous stadiums designed for better enjoyment for everyone, whether viewers or athletes.
Benlit’s stadium has this too, but it offers more, like setting a massive VIP stand at the best viewing position, with multiple cameras pointed at it, broadcasting what’s happening on the stand to the big screens inside the stadium.
This is because stars often come here to watch fancy exhibition matches, and viewers aren’t there for the exhibition matches but to see the stars...
The match starts at three in the afternoon, and the stadium is already filled with spectators, surprising everyone.
As fans entered, about the time, a somewhat familiar voice echoed through the commentary loudspeakers, "Didn’t expect so many people to come this year. I thought maybe only three hundred or five hundred would come to watch the match..."
To create some influence, Benlit’s mayor spent significant money inviting the highly popular commentators known as the "Three Blokes" in the Super Cup, known for their, earning them the fans’ nickname.
Their style is very distinctive, cheeky, sometimes sharp, and sometimes humorous, which fans enjoy during this period.
Commentator Two: "Maybe locals never watch rugby, so they don’t know we don’t recognize the pre-season games as official!"
One commentator slightly mocked some matters, apparent to listeners, a bit of mockery towards locals, but mostly a dig at Benlit’s mayor, causing laughter in the audience, even some locals laughed.
Before the team enters, the staff goes first, they start narrating seriously, then followed by the team.
Commentator One: "This year, the Interstellar Club’s performance is quite good, they might even win the pre-season championship..."
Commentator Two: "Sorry, as I said earlier, I don’t recognize the pre-season game as official..."
Commentator Three: "Bullshit, why are we here providing commentary for a non-official game?"
Commentator Two: "Because they paid a lot, we couldn’t refuse!" Read full story at 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡•𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚•𝙣𝙚𝙩
Before the match started, the fans were already laughing everywhere, finding it amusing, despite the commentators’ sarcasm, it’s entertaining as long as it’s not at one’s expense.
Commentator Three: "Look, the person who paid is here. Do we need to stand up and narrate the below segment to express our gratitude for having a job?"
Commentator Two: "Certainly, or you risk not getting your final payment..."
From the loudspeaker came a sharp fart sound, heightening their sarcasm and humor, driving some people to laughter frenzy, while everyone’s eyes focused on the VIP stand.