In Ethan's original plan, the club's commercial operations were not limited to New Manchester United itself. They also included the area surrounding the stadium, which was why he had decided to purchase all the land around the City of Manchester Stadium.
Now that land values had risen and Manchester City Council had begun planning the district's development, Ethan could clearly see the long-term benefits.
Once the surrounding land was fully developed, the rental income alone would provide New Manchester United with a virtually inexhaustible source of revenue.
According to estimates prepared by Mark and the commercial department, once the new stadium was completed, the team continued performing well, and the surrounding land appreciated further, leasing the four corner plots alone could generate at least £10 million a year.
That did not even include the stadium's own operating income.
Old Trafford was situated within Old Trafford Shopping Park, which gave Manchester United an obvious advantage, but it also imposed clear limitations.
New Manchester United's situation was different.
The area surrounding their stadium had not yet been fully developed and therefore possessed enormous commercial potential.
One only needed to look at the companies currently interested in the club's land: Vodafone, Audi, Citibank, Adidas, and others.
Every one of them was a major multinational corporation.
Why were they willing to invest in this district?
Manchester City Council's development plans were certainly one reason.
Another was the strategy Ethan had given Mark from the beginning.
The club would use the stadium as the centre of the district, carefully planning the surrounding land so that the venue itself would drive the area's commercial growth.
Once companies such as Vodafone and Audi established themselves beside the stadium, the council would almost certainly prioritise further development to the west and south.
The entire district would benefit, and its future prosperity was easy to imagine.
It was an investment that could benefit New Manchester United for decades.
In that respect, Ethan's decision was as farsighted as Santiago Bernabéu's purchase of the land surrounding Real Madrid's stadium years earlier.
"I've spoken with the council," Mark said with a smile.
"They have confirmed that the Metrolink can open a dedicated stop on the west side of our stadium. They will also arrange for additional bus routes to serve the area.
"They are very interested in our plans and hope to introduce a series of measures supporting the stadium's construction."
Mark now dealt with Manchester's mayor and councillors with confidence.
The commercial world's growing interest in the stadium project had completely changed the club's position.
Walsh was deeply irritated by the contrast.
He frequently complained that when he had negotiated with the council over the land, he had been forced to approach them with endless patience and humility, yet still struggled to gain their approval.
Now those same officials were practically competing for Mark's attention.
Walsh could only lament how unfair life could be.
"Good. We can cooperate with them," Ethan said with a smile.
"But first, they need to help us solve a major problem."
"A temporary stadium?" Mark immediately guessed.
"Exactly.
"Construction of the new ground will take at least two years. During that period, we will need to rent another stadium.
"As I see it, our only realistic options are Manchester City's Maine Road or Manchester United's Old Trafford.
"Neither club is likely to negotiate willingly with us unless someone steps in to mediate."
Although New Manchester United had originated from Manchester United, many of its supporters no longer felt any affection for the older club.
That was especially true after the Martin Edwards scandal.
Increasing numbers of supporters had turned away from Manchester United and begun following the Red Rebels instead.
Over the previous few years, New Manchester United had devoted enormous attention to its relationship with the supporters.
Besides establishing the Red Rebel Foundation, the club had introduced various services and benefits for fans.
Its philosophy was simple: money received from the supporters should also be spent for their benefit.
That approach made the fans feel increasingly valued, and New Manchester United's popularity throughout Manchester continued to grow.
The club's home attendances made that obvious.
Recently, Ethan had heard rumours that the Glazer family from the United States were actively purchasing shares from Manchester United shareholders.
In addition to seeking the holdings previously controlled by Edwards and Murdoch, they were also buying shares on the open market.
For the moment, there was little danger of them gaining control.
Alex Ferguson's close friends, Irish racehorse owners John Magnier and J. P. McManus, held more than 20 per cent of Manchester United's shares.
They had publicly stated that they would not sell because of their relationship with Ferguson.
What worried Ethan was what might happen several months later.
Once Rock of Gibraltar, the racehorse Magnier had allowed Ferguson to share ownership of, retired, the two men might fall out over the horse's breeding rights.
If that happened, the Glazers could seize the opportunity.
Ethan had no realistic way to warn Ferguson.
The manager currently had an excellent relationship with Magnier and McManus, and they had helped him remove Edwards from power.
Ferguson was also an exceptionally stubborn man.
Any warning from Ethan might be interpreted as an attempt to create conflict between close friends.
Ethan had no intention of involving himself in such a thankless matter.
Besides, Manchester United's internal affairs were no longer his concern.
He cared only about the Red Rebels and friends such as Beckham.
"All right, Mark," Ethan said.
"Speak with the council and ask them to mediate with Manchester United.
"We'll try to rent Old Trafford next season.
"Find out how receptive they are. If there is absolutely no possibility of an agreement, then we'll approach Manchester City."
Ethan's first choice was Old Trafford.
He found the idea of the Red Rebels playing there extremely entertaining.
The most amusing part was that New Manchester United's ticket prices were considerably lower than Manchester United's.
The same stadium would host two clubs charging entirely different prices.
Ethan was curious to see how Manchester United would respond.
The Red Rebels had little to lose and no reason to fear the consequences.
Kenyon could deal with that problem himself.
At that moment, Ethan's telephone began ringing.
"Excuse me. Please continue."
He apologised, stood, picked up the phone, and walked into the adjoining private room.
...
"Hello, Steve. What made you decide to call me?"
Ethan answered with a smile.
The Steve on the other end was not Bruce, but Apple chief executive Steve Jobs.
"It's been a long time. I thought I should check on an old friend," Jobs replied cheerfully.
"Are you in some kind of trouble?"
"Trouble?" Ethan asked in surprise. "What trouble could I possibly be in?"
"I heard you sent John David to the United States to negotiate several transactions and that you intend to sell your shares in quite a few companies. What is going on?"
Jobs sounded genuinely concerned.
"Oh, that.
"I don't believe those companies have much room left for growth, and I'm currently preparing a major project that requires considerable funding.
"So I decided to sell the shares.
"Why? Is Apple interested?"
Jobs laughed without answering directly.
"Ethan, I heard you're planning to build a new stadium for your football club.
"I assume that is where the money is going."
Ethan immediately laughed.
"That's right, Steve.
"You know the project will cost at least £250 million.
"Apart from my shares, I don't own many assets that can raise that kind of money."
"No, no, no," Jobs replied.
"If you were willing to sell your time, Apple would gladly pay enough to build the stadium for you.
"But I already know you would refuse."
Jobs felt relieved.
He had been worried that Ethan had encountered a serious personal or financial problem.
If the money was only for a stadium, there was nothing to fear.
Ethan had always been that kind of person.
As Jobs often said, he would do almost anything for football, no matter how unreasonable it appeared.
Selling shares in several companies was hardly surprising.
"I also heard that you recently invested in DreamWorks with George Clooney and several others," Jobs continued with a smile.
"Was that for your girlfriend?"
Ethan laughed.
"I couldn't help it. Eva loves films.
"That kind of pleasure is something a workaholic like you would never understand, Steve."
Jobs burst out laughing.
For reasons neither man could fully explain, despite Jobs's intense devotion to work, he and Ethan had developed an unusually close friendship despite the difference in their ages.
"By the way, Steve, how is the Apple Store project progressing?" Ethan asked.
Apple's flagship retail stores would become another of the company's defining achievements.
"Very well.
"We have already opened several flagship stores in the United States, and we are now preparing to expand into Europe."
Jobs's admiration for Ethan grew once again.
The original proposal for the retail stores had come from him.
"You're expanding into Europe?" Ethan asked.
"Would you be interested in opening a store in Manchester?"
A new idea had suddenly occurred to him.
Apple's products would eventually attract worldwide attention, while its flagship stores would become destinations for devoted customers.
Including an Apple Store in New Manchester United's development would greatly increase the area's appeal.
"What is it?" Jobs asked with interest. "Do you have another idea?"
Ethan immediately explained his proposal.
He wanted to include an Apple flagship store within the stadium development and have Herzog and de Meuron design the building.
He believed the combination of Apple and the Swiss architects could produce something truly remarkable.
"I see," Jobs replied.
"I'll send someone from the company to Manchester.
"You can arrange for your people to meet them, but I cannot promise anything yet."
"You won't even give special treatment to a shareholder?" Ethan asked.
"Certainly not. You haven't attended a single shareholders' meeting all year."
Jobs's reply made Ethan laugh.
The two continued speaking for some time.
During the conversation, Ethan also discussed Apple's future development, drawing upon what he remembered from his previous life.
He had briefly mentioned many of those ideas before, but this time he tried to explain them as completely as possible.
Ethan was not a technology-obsessed workaholic like Jobs.
He could discuss such ideas at length, but when Jobs suggested that he remain in the United States for a while, he refused immediately.
He still preferred Manchester.
The Red Rebels were here.
(To be continued.)