Glory Of The Football Manager System

Chapter 98: The Hardest Goodbye II

"Brighton?" he finally whispered. "A Championship club? For me?"

"For you," I confirmed. "They’ve been watching you all season. They want you, JJ. They believe in you.""

"You’ve earned it, mate," I said, a proud smile on my face. "You’re a hot commodity. But Brighton is the right move. They’ve got a great academy, a manager in Chris Hughton who believes in young players. It’s the perfect place for you."

"But... I thought I was coming with you," he said, his voice small, vulnerable, the voice of a boy rather than the man he was becoming. "To Crystal Palace. You said... you said we’d do this together."

I hadn’t said that. Not explicitly. But I’d let him believe it. I’d let him hope. And now I was crushing that hope.

My heart broke.

"I wish I could take you, JJ," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "But I can’t. Not yet. I’m going for an U18s coach job. I don’t think I will have any say over transfers. And even if I did... you’re too good for U18s football. You’re ready for the professional game, at least in my opinion. Right now. This Brighton deal is real. It’s on the table. And the fee... that £100,000 secures the future of this club for years to come. It’s your legacy, JJ. Your gift to Moss Side."

Terry stepped forward, his big frame shaking with emotion. "He’s right, son. Do you know what that money means? New changing rooms. A proper youth setup. We can give kids from this community the same chance you had. You’re not just securing your own future. You’re securing the future of every kid in Moss Side who dreams of playing for this club."

JJ looked around the room, at the faces of his teammates, at Terry, at me. He was just nineteen, but in that moment, he stood taller. "Alright," he said, his voice firm and clear. "I’ll do it. For Moss Side. For all of us."

him, a joyous, chaotic mess of back-slaps and head-ruffles. Their sadness for my departure was momentarily forgotten, replaced by a wave of collective pride for one

the celebration continue for a moment before holding up a hand. There were

seventeen-year-old who had become our unlikely hero. The kid who had been too traumatized to speak when I first arrived, who now stood tall and confident. "You were magnificent in that

with a nervous hope, the same

said gently, and I saw the hope

team now. You go to a pro club now, you’ll be

look of mature understanding on his young face. "I

have, son," I said, pulling him into a

the club still needs you. Scott needs you. I need you to stay on for one more year. As a player, as a captain. And then... Terry and I

had never won a thing until this season. "A youth team

don’t think, Dave. I know," I said. "You’re a natural leader. You’re patient, you’re kind, you’re wise. You’re the perfect man to

nodded, a single tear tracing a

done. I had done right by them. I had

leaving tomorrow morning," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "But whatever happens, I will never,

door, unable to say another word. I felt a hand on my shoulder. It

of you, Gaffer," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "We’re all so bloody proud of you. Now go and show them what

I was passed from player to player, each one with a