Brandermill football club’s preseason campaign led to an increase in enthusiasm and expectation amongst their supporters in the city. In fact, after beating league giants Southend United which mounted a rather potent season last year, followed by a few more victories against other teams in their vicinities, the club was predicted to have an extremely impressive top finish with a chance of promotion, a marked improvement from a club that barely escaped relegation through a fluke last season.

  Simon’s role in the club’s nascent success were not as perceptible as the role that James Pelletier had on the team. Pelletier has turned into a sort of a messiah for the city who lauded him as the man who will lead their team to glory.

  However, where there are supporters, there are bound to be detractors which was the case for Pelletier as well. Many believed that the nearly forty-year-old, Italian, will not be able to cope with English football with his markedly Italian football philosophy.

  This was the reason why at this moment, the week before the first match of the season on August 1st, a reporter amongst the host of reporters filling the press room, was currently staring at Pelletier while speaking with an unmistakably mocking tone: