Chapter 373: Goodbye, Ian Part 2
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
He was indeed busy. Being a Premier League manager was completely different from being an English Football League Championship team manager. Therefore, he could only smile at Ian MacDonald’s words.
“Oh, yes, I need to tell you sothing, Tony. I’m planning to hang up my boots.”
Twain did not react at first. “Hang up your boots?” What was the gatekeeper hanging up his boots for? But soon he understood and raised his voice in surprise. “You’re retiring!”
“Yes, my health isn’t so great. My kids are adamant that I quit.” Ian cleared his throat. “Initially I had said I would resign from the club next January. But I think I’m going to wait until the end of the season. I want to see the team go a little further. When the players stop playing, don’t they normally say they’re hanging up their boots? Well, I want to hang up my boots too!” Ian grinned and chuckled.
Twain was at a loss for words. He knew that Ian was in bad health and had been in the hospital for a period of rest so ti ago. The club had temporarily transferred a security guard from the youth team to help out. At that ti, Twain had felt unused to seeing a stern, cold-faced uniford security guard at the gate day in and day out, and not that old man who always smiled and greeted everyone.
Considering the elderly man’s health, leaving the post was indeed a wise choice, and Twain had no reason to stop him. That was also why he was at a loss for words.
Seeing that Twain was quiet, Ian said, “But it’s good. Now, I can go watch a live match. It’s been a long ti since I last watched a Forest ga at City Ground. Sotis...” He looked back at the radio on the table. “It’s uncomfortable to listen to the radio here and not watch the ga.”
Twain’s lips quivered. “You’re still not used to it?”
“Of course I am. After all, I’ve worked here for more than ten years.” MacDonald turned to look at the inside of the training base. “When I first started standing here, it was Brian Clough’s last season with the Forest team. I can still clearly rember the day when ‘Big ‘Ead’ (Brian Clough’s nickna) bid farewell to this place.?He was alone, holding his dog as he walked out...” MacDonald pointed to the road in front of the gate and waved his hand. “When he passed by, he said to : ‘Goodbye, Ian. I wish you all the best.’ Then I said: ‘Good luck to you too, sir.’ Then he walked away without turning back and was gone.
“I’ve seen a lot of people walk out of this gate and never co back. Sotis I think, ‘It’s really unlucky of . Just when I was getting close with them, they’re all gone. The Forest team was also relegated.’ Then I saw more people co in, the Forest team was promoted, and relegated again, promoted again, and then relegated… After we were beaten by Manchester United by 1:8, they ca here listlessly to start another new day of training. That was a tough ti.
“Do you know what I thought when I first saw you here, Tony?”
Twain shook his head.
“I thought, another unlucky chap!” Ian MacDonald guffawed. He laughed so happily that he coughed.
Twain laughed with him.
“I had seen many new managers smugly take on their new roles and leave here without a choice in the end. I had no hope for you at all. At the ti, I was worried about whether the Forest team would disappear from here because of bankruptcy. I think many people were worried about that. No one cared about how the new manager was.”
“But you’ve proven that you’re different, and the most special one. Thank you, Tony.”
Twain was about to say sothing when he saw MacDonald wave his hand in the direction behind him, “The chairman’s car is here, Tony.”
The red-colored Audi A6 stopped beside Twain during their conversation.
“Good morning, Ian!” Evan Doughty poked his head out from the driver’s seat to wave at Ian MacDonald.
“Good morning, Mr. Chairman.” Ian slightly nodded, and then said to Twain, “Goodbye, Tony.”
“Goodbye, Ian.”
“Let’s go, Tony!” Evan beckoned to Twain and motioned for him to get in the car. “Bye, Ian!”
“Goodbye, Mr. Chairman.”
Twain got into the car. Evan restarted the engine and drove through the gate of the training base. He looked back and could not see Ian MacDonald. Maybe he was back in the small guardhouse.
Even though there was no training today, he still had to be there to hold his post.
“Hey, Evan.”
“Yes?”
“Ian told just now that he’ll retire when the season is over.”
Doughty looked at Twain, and Twain pointed towards the front. “You’re driving.”
Evan Doughty turned his head back. “Is it because of his health?”
“Yes. His children don’t support his continuing as a guard at the training base.”
“Ian MacDonald has been working here for thirteen years. He’s the last witness of that era, isn’t he? When my father took over the team, he had already been working here for a long ti.”
Twain leaned back on the seat and said, “All the old people are gone.”
“Isn’t that nice? The cycle of life. You see what the dia says about us? ‘The Young Forest team’! I like that label, young and full of vitality!”
“But… I’m used to having soone to say hello to every day.”
Evan Doughty was silent for a mont and said, “Of course, the club won’t let him leave just like that. I’ll consider giving him an honorary title of a ‘Lifelong Fan’ and reserving a lifeti seat for him in the stands.”
Twain did not say anything. That was what Evan could do as the chairman of the club. What about him? He should prepare a parting gift for the old man too.
But what should he give him?
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