Succession: N17 Edition

[Sonny]

Easy win there

Preseason should be easy. Then at Chelsea in Match one.

[Sonny]

Date: 26 July 2026 - Day after Reading friendly
Characters in scene: Daniel Ashcroft (head coach), Steven Jennings (agent), Peter Charrington (club Chairman), Vinai Venkatesham (club CEO), Johan Lange (club sporting director)
Scene: Daniel is in his car, driving home from training, when his agent calls to discuss the board members' comments on the last press conference

Daniel Ashcroft’s car moves steadily along the North Circular, training bag tossed onto the passenger seat, windows cracked open despite the July heat. The Reading match still sits in his head — patterns he liked, mistakes he didn’t, the usual mental replay of a manager.

His phone buzzes on the dash, the name and picture of his agent, Steven Jennings, flash on the car display.

“Go on,” Daniel says. “Tell me I’ve ruined the club already.”

“They’re not happy,” Steven says. “The press conference last night was too much, too soon. Peter and Vinai said you boxed them in publicly when you said a right-back and striker are needed."

Daniel snorts. “We do need a right-back and a striker.”

There’s a brief pause, then a second voice joins the call. “Daniel,” Johan Lange says, measured as ever, “they feel it added pressure and tension to the club.”

“Good,” Daniel replies instantly. “Maybe they’ll move faster.”

Steven sighs. “They don’t see it like that. They think you’ve created expectations.”

“I didn’t name players. I didn’t give prices. I said positions. If that scares them, that’s on them. Anyone who watches or listens to anything Tottenham-related knows those two positions are needed.”

Johan jumps back in before Steven can escalate. “I’m working the lists,” he says. “But Peter and Vinai are pushing back hard on your top targets. Even with the sales and revenue generated this summer. I know they promised 50 million but we will be lucky if we can spend 30.”

Daniel’s jaw tightens slightly. “Too expensive.”

“Yes,” Johan admits. “That’s the word being used. ‘Unnecessary stretch.’”

“So where are they on the list? How far down?"

The phone went silent for what felt like minutes. “Jay Stansfield,” Johan says. “And Youri Regeer.”

Daniel doesn’t respond immediately, thinking of the two players and how they would fit.

Steven tenses on the other end of the line. “Dan?”

Then Daniel smiles, his tone changing to a more upbeat. “Fine.”

Johan blinks, even though Daniel can’t see him. “Fine?” He asks, questioning why Daniel is ok with this news.

“Yeah,” Daniel says calmly. “That works.”

Steven hesitates. “You’re… okay with that?”

Daniel shrugs, easing off the accelerator. “I knew they’d never go for the top of the list,” he says. “That’s why it was the top of the list.”

Johan exhales, relief mixing with curiosity. “So you’re not disappointed?”

“No,” Daniel replies. “I’m realistic.”

He glances at the road ahead.

“I put who I really wanted further down. I know how this place works.”

There’s a silence on the call now — the kind that only comes when everyone realises the same thing at once.

Steven breaks it first. “You played them.”

Daniel smiles again, this time wider. “I didn’t play anyone,” he says. “I just didn’t insult their intelligence by pretending they’d suddenly changed.”

Johan chuckles. “I’ll proceed, then. We will put in bids for Stansfeld and Regeer this week.”

“Do that,” Daniel says. “And tell Peter and Vinai that I fully support the decisions and I want what is best for the club. Tell them that I understand the clubs finacial position and can make 30 million pounds this window work, but after Romero is sold, I expect funds in January." Then Daniel hangs up, pulling into his lane, seeing his wife, Andrea, and his daughter Anna outside, waiting for him.

[Sonny]

[Soapy]

probably felt good selling Romeo after the united game IRL

[RMJH4]

probably felt good selling Romeo after the united game IRL

all time move for the culture for sure

[Sonny]

probably felt good selling Romeo after the united game IRL

It really did. Watching Luka in the Bundesliga, he looks ready to step right in for Romero next season. If only Spurs would make the moves happen.

probably felt good selling Romeo after the united game IRL

all time move for the culture for sure

It was never good to make a hot-head the captain.

[Sonny]

[Sonny]

[Sonny]

[Sonny]