17. Financing
"Five hundred pounds a week," Paul said, leaning in his chair.
Benjamin blinked. "What?"
"Five hundred," Paul repeated. "That not good enough for you?"
"I figured it'd be higher."
"Not with where we are," Paul replied, pulling out his thick, weathered briefcase. He thumbed through its contents and handed Benjamin a folder. "I've combed through the books. Truth is, we don't have the budget for more. Not unless we start stacking some wins."
Benjamin opened the file, eyes scanning the sea of red ink.
[Current Budget: £350,000.]
Expenses:
• Staff Salaries:
• Assistant Manager (Harriet Andressa): £31,200/year. Paid above average for her much higher experience and certifications.
• Fitness Coach (Cory Walker): £23,400/year. Keeps the young squad fit.
• Scout 1 (Zachary Fassbender): £18,200/year. Finds free agents and loans.
• Scout 2 (Randall Ings): £18,200/year. Same role as Zachary.
• Physiotherapist (Patriot Simmons): £23,400/year. Handles injuries.
• Doctor (Victoria Klives): £31,200/year. Manages medical needs.
• UK Payroll Taxes (Employer NICs): £12,578.
• Total Staff Costs: £158,178.
Miscellaneous costs:
• Operational Costs: £150,000. Covers stadium rental, travel, and work permits for non-UK players (e.g., Spanish squad members).
• Scouting/Trials: £5,000. Funds free agent trials and loan scouting.
• Total Other Costs: £155,000.
• Total Costs: £313,178.
• Budget remaining: £36,822.
Benjamin dropped the file on the desk and looked up at Paul. "A hundred and fifty grand on the stadium? That's insane. Did we have to pick Stevenage?"
"It's about fifty for the stadium," Paul replied calmly. "The rest is travel for the season. It's all under operational costs—see?"
Benjamin picked up the file again, gave it another glance, then dropped it with a resigned sigh. "I suppose. I'm not exactly struggling for money anyway, so... fine. Where do I sign?"
"Well," Paul said, shifting in his seat, "since you're one of the club's key players, you won't be signing a regular contract."
"Hm?"
Just then, Harriet stepped into the room, holding a folder in one hand and a pen between her fingers. She walked over and handed it to Paul.
"I finished it," she said.
Paul gave the document a quick once-over before passing it to Benjamin.
Benjamin scanned through the contract. It was full-time. Two-year length. Five hundred a week. No bonuses. And at the bottom, a minimum release clause: £2 million.
He raised an eyebrow. "No bonuses? What are those?"
Harriet replied, stepping beside the desk. "Striker bonuses are usually designed to reward output—goals, assists, even work rate in some clubs. You'd normally see something like a bonus for hitting fifteen or twenty league goals. We have plans to offer you a brand new contract after promotion however, with all those missing bonuses."
"Alright, I can take that." Benjamin nodded, then pointed at the clause. "And this? Two million release clause... seems low, no?"
Paul glanced at Harriet, who exhaled lightly. Clearly, she hadn't expected to walk him through every clause.
"To be fair, it is his first proper contract," Paul said, with a half smile.
Harriet sighed. "That £2 million release clause is to stop you getting snatched like a chick in summer."
"Weird analogy, but go on," Benjamin replied.
"Down here in the National League, we've got tiny budgets and no clout compared to Man City or Liverpool," Harriet explained. "When a player like you shines, scouts pounce."
"Like Jamie Vardy?" Benjamin asked.
"Exactly like Jamie," Harriet nodded. "Clubs sign talents from leagues like ours on the cheap, then loan them out to build value. Without a release clause, they could haggle us down to peanuts."
"We wouldn't want to sell you, since you're key player to us," Paul added. "But say a League One club offers £50,000 and you're tempted. Without that clause, we'd have little say. The £2 million means they pay big or back off."
"So it's a big deal for the National League," Benjamin said.
"Massive," Harriet replied. "It scares off most League Two or National League clubs. Protects you and us."
"But couldn't a club just pay the £2 million and take me?" Benjamin asked.
"Yeah," Paul admitted, "if they meet the clause, they can talk to you. But £2 million's huge for our level, no one's coughing that up lightly. It gives us a safety net."
Benjamin nodded, pen hovering over the paper. "Alright, I'm in." He signed at the bottom.
"Beautiful." Paul said, taking the contract away.
"Is there anything else you want from me?" Benjamin asked, pausing at the door.
"Yes, actually," Paul said, leaning forward. "I wanted to ask... how are you? How's your family?"
Of course, Paul already knew everything about Benjamin's background. Every scout who'd tracked him since middle school had filed reports, built dossiers, and combed through the Parker family history. He wasn't any different.
But still, there were things the scouts couldn't see. And Paul wanted to know those parts. To connect.
"They're fine," Benjamin said, turning slightly as he walked away.
"Oh... I mean, are you having any issues at home? Is everything alright?"
"It's all good." Benjamin's hand rested on the doorknob. "Thanks, coach." He slipped out, the door clicking shut behind him.
Harriet, leaning against the desk, raised an eyebrow. "Not much of a talker, is he? At least not about the personal stuff."
"Seems that way." Paul sighed, picking up his player list and crossing off Benjamin's name. "Next up's Elke."
"For what?" Harriet asked, tilting her head.
"Oh, just checking in," Paul said, shrugging. "Building rapport, you know? Keeps them grounded with us."
Harriet smirked. "Loyalty farming, you mean?"
Paul coughed, waving off the term. "I'd call it bonding. We need them committed, not jumping ship the second a League Two club flashes a contract."
"Whatever you say, coach." Harriet pushed off the desk, grabbing a flash drive of match tapes from the table. "Want me to hand these out to the lads? Training's soon."
"Yeah," Paul said. "I'll be out in a minute to run through their drills."
Harriet nodded and headed out, leaving the office quiet.
Paul's gaze dropped to Benjamin's contract, the £2 million release clause staring back at him. The room felt as empty as when he'd first claimed it, but now it was his. A new chapter with Halles Sieger, starting with a scrappy budget and a striker they couldn't let slip away.
He raised the contract to his face, about to file it away. On the fine print read:
Club: Halles Sieger FC
Player: Benjamin Parker.
Date: August 31, 2028.
Contract Reference: HSFC-BP-2028-031.
Contract Terms:
1. Type: Full-Time Professional Contract
• Benjamin will transition from an unpaid, part-time player to a full-time professional, committing to all training, matches, and club activities in the Vanarama National League.
2. Duration:
• Start Date: August 31, 2028
• End Date: August 31, 2030
• Length: 2 years
3. Wages:
• Weekly Salary: £500
• Annual Salary: £26,000
• Employer NICs (UK Payroll Tax, 13.8% above £9,100): £2,332.20
• Total Cost to Club: £28,332.20/year
• Paid weekly via PAYE, with income tax (~£3,002) and employee NICs (~£1,201) deducted, netting Benjamin ~£438/week.
4. Bonuses:
• None. No performance-based incentives (e.g., goals, appearances, or clean sheets) are included.
5. Minimum Release Clause:
• £2,000,000
• Any club wishing to sign Benjamin before August 31, 2030, must pay Halles Sieger £2,000,000.
6. Duties and Obligations:
• Participate in all training sessions, matches, and media events as required by Halles Sieger.
• Maintain fitness and comply with club rules, including those set by Fitness Coach Cory Walker and Physiotherapist Patriot Simmons.
• Adhere to FA and National League regulations, including work permit compliance if Benjamin is non-UK (e.g., Spanish, requiring a Governing Body Endorsement).
7. Termination:
• The contract may be terminated by mutual consent or if either party breaches terms (e.g., misconduct or non-payment).
• The £2,000,000 release clause applies unless the contract is mutually terminated.
————————————————————
In most cases, a £2 million release clause would've been laughed off. If Benjamin had an agent, they'd have fought tooth and nail against it. Sure, it promised a massive payout for Halles Sieger if he lit up the National League, but it was a gamble.
If Benjamin struggled—say, injuries or a dip in form. That sky high clause could scare off clubs, pricing him out of moves to League Two or beyond. His value would stall, stuck behind a number too big for the fifth tier.
But then again... Benjamin wasn't going to underperform.
His talent was obvious to anyone watching. It radiated from the way he moved, thought, played. And as Paul sat in his office, eyes drifting toward the glass pane doors, all he could think about was the deal they'd just sealed.
Benjamin Willson Parker.
A top tier talent.
And for the next two years, he was all theirs.
Paul leaned back in his chair and exhaled, a smile on his lips.
"Don't get too hyped now, Paul," he muttered with a chuckle. "That's just one of three."