Xiang Evan. Dogetty made it easier to say that her decision was made because there would not be too much personal emotion involved. But for the fans, it's a different story. The fans trust him so much, like him, support him, but he still chooses to leave, how should he say that to the fans?

The topic of whether or not Don will stay has been boiling for a long time, but Don will not succumb to the pressure from the media.

In the media, on the Internet, and even on the streets, the discussion about whether Don will eventually stay has never stopped. There are even bookmakers who offer odds for Donne's to stay, so that everyone can bet on it. Judging from the betting and odds, everyone is more optimistic that Don will eventually stay.

The team was disbanded after answering Wilford, and Done drove home. Before leaving, he informed Evan. Dogetty, hold the press conference tomorrow afternoon.

Not far from the Wilford training base, Donn noticed a betting shop on the side of the road, which hung the odds chart of his stay, but at this time of the night there was no one betting here, and the store manager yawned and was ready to close.

Don suddenly became interested, and he pulled over to a halt.

The store manager saw that there was business coming to the door, and his spirit was much better. It's just that when he saw clearly who the person who came over, he was stunned.

"Tony?" He tilted his head and squinted, scrutinizing the man who walked in.

Maybe in the UK, there are many men called "Tony", but in Nottingham, there is only one person in the public figure "Tony" - Nottingham Forest's head coach Tony. Dawn.

Now that he was recognized, there was no need for Don to hide his identity. He asked, "Are there more people buying me to go or more people staying?" ”

The store manager also recovered from the initial shock and replied, "There are a lot of people who buy and stay." ”

"What do you think, boss?" Donn continued to ask.

"Uh......" The store manager didn't answer right away, and he fell into a conflict in his heart. His shop is the closest to Wilford's training base, so he can always hear a lot of gossip and insider information that no one else can hear. And to Tony. Tang En also knew very well, and intellectually speaking, he felt that Tang En was unlikely to stay. But emotionally, he couldn't accept the fact that Don was leaving.

So he hesitated, not knowing how to answer Donn's question.

Don took out a bill from his wallet and handed it to the store manager: "Ten pounds, buy me and go." ”

This sentence shook the store manager's body. Apparently he understood the meaning behind this, so he was not in a hurry to collect the money, but looked up at Don.

"The profit is yours, and the loss is mine." Don didn't ask for the credentials, put the ten-pound bill on the table at the betting shop, and turned and walked away.

After getting back into the car, Don waved to the stationmaster of the betting shop who was standing at the door, and then started the car and left.

※※※ The first newspaper published in Nottingham the next day published such a news story immediately attracted a lot of attention.

“…… According to the owner of this betting shop, John. Mr. Farrell revealed that at about half past eleven last night, Tony Farrell. Donn came to him out of the blue, chatted with him for a few words, and then took out ten pounds to leave a note for his own going. But he bought it and walked ...... himself."

"You're reading the newspaper at breakfast again, Uncle Tony." Shania spread her jade hand out in front of Donn, who sighed and folded the newspaper in the palm of her hand.

"Have you figured out how you're going to face the fans and the media in the afternoon?" After putting the newspaper away, Shania asked.

"Nope." Don shook his head, "The boat will naturally go straight to the bridge. ”

He really didn't think of any good way, he could only go up, sit on the stage, and then think of a way. How did he respond to questions from reporters and fan representatives? It's useless to think about this kind of problem now, just improvise, anyway, he is good at on-the-spot command, and he is most used to dealing with emergencies.

However, what is reported in this newspaper should be able to give fans a precautionary shot, so that they will not be too surprised and disappointed when the news is actually announced.

"Actually, it's nothing, I'm Tony. Wasn't Donn always said 'playing cards out of common sense'? ”

Don wiped his mouth to indicate that he had finished eating.

Shania got up to clean up, and Don's cell phone rang.

One glance at the caller ID, it was Pierce. Bruce called.

"Harrow, Mr. 007." When Donn was in a good mood, he would make these little jokes. Bruce understood him, so he wondered, "Listen to your voice, you're in a good mood, Tony?" ”

"Of course, what is there that can make me feel bad?"

"Afternoon press conference ......"

"Huh. I've made my decision and there's nothing to worry about. ”

"I read the newspaper news this morning, is that real?"

Bruce had come to confirm the matter.

"What's really fake?" Don deliberately pretended to be confused.

"There's a betting shop manager who says you run to him late at night to buy your own go, is that true, Tony?"

It was useless to deny this, so Don generously admitted: "Yes." I went to bet, but the store manager who made the money was mine, and the loss was mine. ”

Bruce on the other end of the phone smiled bitterly: "Do you think you can still pay?" ”

Don shrugged: "Who knows? ”

Bruce was someone who knew Donne, and he wouldn't think Donn was going to stay because of Donn's tricky words.

"I didn't call to ask about this, but to ask, do you need me to cooperate with you at the press conference in the afternoon?"

This kind of thing has not been done between Donn and Bruce before, and when a reporter encounters trouble, Bruce will stand up and cooperate with Donn to divert the topic. If Bruce didn't do this, he wouldn't have been trusted by Donne, and naturally he wouldn't have been able to become the ghostwriter of Donn's autobiography.

"There's no script to rehearse beforehand...... Don declined Bruce's offer.

"Then I can only wish you the best of luck, you know the fans are very welcoming, Tony."

Hanging up the phone, Don shrugged at his wife, who was looking at him, "I think Mr. 007 is really blind." ”

Shania smiled and didn't speak. In fact, she was a little worried...... ※※※ Spent the morning at home with Shania, and in the afternoon Donn drove alone to the Crimson Court to attend a press conference held there.

It was a special press conference because it was not only journalists, but also representatives of the club's chosen fans, including the head of the 'Red Shirts' who had spoken directly to Donn outside the training ground.

Don upstairs with Evan. Dogetty met first.

"Are you nervous, Tony?" Evan asked.

Don shrugged: "What's there to be nervous about?" ”

"It's not always so easy to say 'no' to someone who loves you......"

Don grinned and smiled silently.

In fact, he was muttering to Evan in his heart. Dogety's words that he absolutely didn't understand: "Sticking out the head is a knife, and shrinking the head is also a knife......"

Upstairs, you can see the media reporters coming in and out below and some people who can be seen at a glance as fan representatives, and it seems that there are quite a few people.

Not only that, but in the square outside, fans who were not invited to the press conference stood in the square holding signs and expressing their desire for Donn to stay.

"If I were you, seeing these passionate fans, I wouldn't leave." Evan. Doggetty stood by the window with Donn, looking at the people below, and he half-jokingly.

Don didn't respond to his joke. In fact, he didn't say a word until he appeared in front of reporters and officially started the press conference.

Tony sitting in front of everyone. Don has his trademark bantering smile on his face – some call it 'gentle smile', which of course is nonsense, and Donn and mild are basically incompatible. This relieved the audience a little – it didn't look like it was going to be bad news.

Don sat on the stage, also observing the situation below. Although the hall was not "overcrowded", all the seats were full.

Seeing Don come out, the original chatter in the hall gradually stopped, and finally disappeared completely. The press officer then announced the official opening of the press conference.

According to the process, Don spoke first, and then the media asked questions freely. So the media and fans sat in the audience, staring at Don and waiting for him to speak.

Instead of announcing his decision first, Don said, "I know what you're trying to ask, I did what happened last night. The answer is already obvious, isn't it? ”

As soon as these words came out, everyone knew what Donn's final answer was. The fan representatives couldn't hide the disappointment on their faces, but there was still no noise, and they were all waiting for Donn to continue.

Donn looked at the fans off the field, and the reporters were automatically filtered by him.

These people are supportive of him, but I'm sorry he's going to let down these people who love him today.

"I feel sorry...... his voice turned muffled, "I failed the fans' expectations." Although it was my own personal reason, it was my family's reason that I made this decision. But I still want to say sorry to the fans. ”

In fact, Don does not need to apologize, because he has never deceived the fans, he said at the beginning of his comeback that he only did half a season this time, and it was the passionate fans who strongly asked him to stay, so he stood in front of the fans today and said this.

However, Don can deal with the media, or he can not care about the will of the club's top management, and he maintains a good relationship with the fans. So he doesn't mind standing in front of the fans and apologizing to them and saying something heart-wrenching.

"I have something on my mind to say to you......" Donn kept looking at the line-up of fans sitting on the left-hand side, ignoring the media on the other side.

"Actually, uh...... "The entire press conference was an improvisation by Donn, and he had absolutely no scripts prepared, so I don't know where to start now." Don scratched his hair, "What do you say?" I have a happy family, and for ten years, I love my wife, and my wife loves me. It stands to reason that I should be satisfied, but that's not the case. Because my wife and I have been together less and more in the past ten years, I have houses in Nottingham and Los Angeles, but most of the time my wife is alone in the house in Los Angeles, and I am myself in the home in Nottingham, I don't know if you can imagine what life is like. I'm tired of it anyway, and I want to be able to spend the rest of my life with my wife, whether it's in Nottingham or in Los Angeles. I'll admit it's a bit selfish for you. But I've dedicated 11 years to Nottingham Forest, and I've had some of the best memories, so I think I'm a little selfish, right? ”

He looked at the fans in the audience and asked, but no one answered him.

"I could have retired completely, but I decided to come back because I didn't want Nottingham Forest to slide into the abyss and wanted to pull her along. But I can't keep holding on and not letting go, I will always grow old one day...... In fact, I'm old. Donn tilted his head to show the fans below the gray hair on the top of his head, he hadn't dyed his hair since he was born at the age of 50, and his current image is indeed far from what he was at the World Cup, compared to the two, he looks a little old now.

"There is no team in the world that can always rely on one person, so weren't you proud of Nottingham Forest before me? Didn't there be Brian before me. Clough? You should love Nottingham Forest, not Tony. Dawn. I've been honoured to be the captain of such a glorious team for eleven years, but I've never forgotten that the name on the front of the shirt is more important than the name on the back. Don patted his left chest.

'I think my departure is a very good decision for the Forest team and a decision that will make the Forest team stronger in the future. I firmly believe that, so I made this decision. As for the results, only time will tell. ”

"If you really love Forest, please support my decision. Nottingham Forest don't need me in the future, and I can't lead the Forest team anymore, there are more suitable people waiting for you than me. ”

With that, Don stood up, a prepared position for him to leave.

"Thank you all for your support over the past 11 years, and please continue to support it. I apologize to you at one time, but I want to live my own life, and I hope you can understand. ”

After saying this, Don turned around and walked out without looking back. Leave a room full of people who haven't reacted yet.

It was only when his figure completely disappeared at the exit that people reacted. The representatives of the fans were silent, and the reaction of the media reporters was much more violent.

"So Tony. Is it true that Donn will retire completely at the end of the season? ”

"Are you still doubting the real last name of this news?"

"It's really ruthless, just leave after speaking, and leave us no time......"

"It feels like I'm memorizing a manuscript......"

"I've got a lot of questions...... Now what? Except for the release of a transcript of his speech, we have nothing other than other media outlets! ”

Pierce. Bruce didn't get involved in this pointless discussion, he was in a trance.

This time it's not his hunch, it's the future that has already been determined – an era is coming to an end for Nottingham Forest fans.

※※※ This weekend, Nottingham Forest play away. The slogans to keep Don were gone, and Donn saw such a banner in the stands of Forest fans who followed.

"Thank you, Captain!"

(To be continued)