Chapter 7: Entering Working State
Joshua Smith—
Was a workaholic.
The lights in his office at Luton Town F.C. didn't go out until four in the morning.
Papers.
Notes.
Tactical diagrams.
Squad lists.
Transfer targets.
Everything was spread across his desk.
And at eight o'clock—
When John Aston pushed open the office door—
Joshua was already dressed.
Clean.
Composed.
Awake.
As if he hadn't slept at all.
John paused for a moment.
Then frowned slightly.
"You should get some rest, Joshua."
He had heard from the night security that the new head coach hadn't left the building.
Joshua adjusted his cuff calmly.
"I'm fine."
And he was.
Since childhood—
He had possessed a strange ability.
When fully focused—
His body required very little sleep.
Two to three hours—
Was enough.
Deep sleep.
Fast recovery.
Sharp mind.
It wasn't common.
But it wasn't unique either.
Some of the most successful figures—
In football and beyond—
Shared similar traits.
Joshua picked up a thick stack of papers.
Handed them to John.
"Look at this first."
"We'll have a staff meeting after."
John took the papers.
Flipped through them.
Faster.
Then slower.
Then—
He stopped.
"This is…"
He looked up.
"…the plan for next season?"
Joshua nodded.
"Yes."
His voice was calm.
But direct.
"We have a limited transfer budget."
"We need to use it efficiently."
"I've already adjusted the training structure."
"We'll follow the new system moving forward."
He turned the calendar on his desk.
"Today is May 26."
"Pre-season begins in late June."
"That gives us… just over a month."
Joshua's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Before that, we fix the foundation."
At that moment—
The door burst open.
Mel Donald rushed in.
Holding several newspapers.
"Joshua!"
He waved them excitedly.
"You're famous now!"
Joshua raised an eyebrow slightly.
Took the papers.
Headlines filled the pages.
"Luton Appoints Unknown Jamaican Coach"
"Chelsea Youth Manager Takes Over Crisis Club"
"Connections or Competence?"
Joshua flipped through them calmly.
No press conference.
No announcement.
Yet—
The news had spread.
In a small town like Luton—
This was enough to cause noise.
Some reports were neutral.
Others—
Less kind.
"Nepotism."
"Inexperience."
"Risky decision."
Joshua closed the paper.
Set it aside.
Uninterested.
Luton wasn't a big club.
Outside local media—
No one cared.
And for now—
That was a good thing.
"No pressure," he said lightly.
Then looked at Mel.
"You're just in time."
"Sit."
"We're starting."
The three men gathered.
Joshua.
Assistant coach John Aston.
Fitness coach Mel Donald.
That was it.
The entire first-team coaching staff.
Joshua leaned forward slightly.
Hands folded.
"Priority—staff expansion."
He spoke clearly.
Structured.
"John and I handle training."
"Mel handles fitness."
He paused.
"But we're missing key roles."
"A goalkeeper coach."
"And a proper medical unit."
John nodded.
"That's true."
He hesitated slightly.
Then said—
"I know someone."
"Used to work at Nottingham Forest as a goalkeeper coach."
Joshua didn't hesitate.
"Bring him in."
"I trust your judgment."
No overthinking.
No delay.
Decisions—
Had to be fast.
Then—
The medical team.
This time—
Silence.
Even John looked unsure.
In lower leagues—
Medical departments were often neglected.
Budget.
Priority.
Awareness.
But Joshua shook his head slightly.
"Injuries decide seasons."
His tone was firm.
"Small injuries become big problems."
"Big problems destroy teams."
He tapped the table lightly.
"I want a proper medical setup."
John and Mel exchanged looks.
Difficult.
But necessary.
Joshua leaned back slightly.
Then—
A thought surfaced.
A familiar face.
From Chelsea F.C.
Haruko Sakuragi.
A sports medicine specialist.
Highly capable.
Joshua's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…I might have someone."
He didn't elaborate.
Not yet.
Then—
He shifted the topic.
"Next—transfers."
The atmosphere changed instantly.
This was what mattered.
John leaned forward.
Mel straightened.
Joshua picked up a sheet.
One name.
"…Drinkwater."
John frowned.
"…Who?"
Joshua tapped the paper.
"Midfielder."
"Youth player at Manchester United."
John thought for a moment.
Then shook his head.
"Not a standout name."
Joshua smiled slightly.
"Not yet."
In his mind—
Another timeline unfolded.
Years later—
That same player would become a key figure in one of the greatest underdog stories in football.
The rise of Leicester City F.C.
Under Claudio Ranieri.
A miracle season.
A team of overlooked players—
Winning the Premier League.
Joshua's smile deepened slightly.
A treasure.
Hidden in plain sight.
"If we can sign him—good."
"If not—loan."
He spoke calmly.
"For clubs like us, loans are essential."
John nodded slowly.
"That… might be possible."
The discussion continued.
All morning.
Transfers.
Tactics.
Training schedules.
Joshua explained his ideas clearly.
Systematically.
He couldn't do everything himself.
So his assistants—
Had to understand everything.
Because from this moment on—
They were no longer surviving.
They were building.
And Joshua Smith—
Was finally—
A head coach in motion.
(End of Chapter 7)
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