Thanks for the comment guys, greatly appreciated.
Monday morning came around quickly and there were sure to be repercussions for Nicky Riley after his outburst over the weekend. Manger Matthew McClintock arrived early at the training ground and prepared for his confrontation with Riley.
Around an hour and a half later, the players began to arrive but no sign of Riley, not one to normally be late despite all his behavioural problems and this was a small concern for McClintock. Had the midfield man finally been rattled by what happened?
Half an hour late, Nicky Riley arrived. As he walked down the hallway, Gifton Noel-Williams, who was now beginning to get more vocal after settling in at the club, shouted at Riley, ‘That’s a fine’. The rest of the lads laughed as Riley headed straight to his managers office.
'Ahh Nicky, just the man I’ve been waiting for, come on in.’ McClintock was wasting little time in holding talks with the troublemaker.
‘Now, the weekend, to put it simply, your attitude, your conduct wasn’t acceptable Nicky. I was appalled that a professional would treat their manager and team mates in that way and we’re going to fine you two weeks wages and you will be dropped for the weekends game.’
Riley sniggered in typical Riley fashion.
‘You think that’s gonna teach me gaffer? You really think I’m gonna sit here, take the fine and the punishment just like that? I want out, a fine isn’t good enough, me being dropped isn’t good enough, I demand a transfer before the window closes. These players do not understand me on and off the pitch and it is simply not working out’
‘Woah woah woah, hold it there Nicky. You want out? I’m not being funny son but you’ve been here a couple of months and have only just begun to make a name for yourself in the game, don’t forget you hadn’t played a senior game until this season. Who’s gonna want you? We’re trying to rebuild this club and in the process rebuild players careers like you. You can be great kid, you can but you’ve gotta stay here and learn the game, learn to conduct yourself correctly, you’ve got it all to do.’
‘I’ve got the whole package gaffer, I could go to England if I wanted. I will do you a deal.’
‘Go on.’
‘I’ll give you my word that until the transfer window closes I will give my all for Dundee FC, you give your all for me but in return, if I’m not happy still come August 31st, you give me a move?’
The Dundee manager contemplated it before coming to a decision.
‘Alright son, you got yourself a deal but if you dare to break your word, you won’t be going anywhere.’
‘Ha, we’ll see boss, we’ll see.’
And with that, the midfielder left his managers office and made his way out for training safe in the knowledge that if he kept his end of the deal, he’d get his move away already. Question was, could Riley really stay out of mischief?