Behind the Scenes with Reno - Part 2 A stitch in time...

As the previous season ended, our quest for a new #9 began, there were lots of names that people were throwing at me but there was one that I really wanted.

I had watched Radcliffe several times the season before and even took in the games of the play-off semi-final and final. There were two reasons I went to the games; one to support my friend Jon Macken (manager at Radcliffe at the time) who played for us at Bamber Bridge, and secondly to watch Tunde.

I knew about the goals he had scored, his ability on a weekly basis but the question I had was...could he do it under pressure, in huge games? If he was to sign for FC, then I needed to know that he could excel on the big stage, in a stadium that would nearly have two thousand fans in every time we were at home, the expectation of playing for FC United. In every game I saw Tunde, I was really impressed. He had pace, power, goals...and above all that, everyone I communicated with spoke really highly of Tunde Owolabi, not only as a player with ability but as someone with real honesty and integrity - a true gentleman. I would later find out that all these qualities were certainly true.

Tunde had been a long-term target of mine, but I am guessing that everyone was after a #9 that resembled Tunde. Before he left for Malta I was going to try and contact him, but then I heard about him leaving so we didn’t. At the time I remember him being linked with everyone. Tunde left for Malta and I am sure I don’t speak just for myself here, but many other managers would be keeping an eye on his progress and development but more importantly, if he was ever to return home then they would want to be right at the front of the queue to sign him.

I remember taking a phone call from one of my really good friends in football. He said to me "do you know that Tunde is back in the UK?" I argued with him to say he was wrong - "Tunde is playing professional football in Malta and their season has just started". "Well, unless I’m seeing things I have just walked past him at the airport". Immediately I put the phone down and rang Tunde - I already had his number as I secured it before I heard he was heading out to Malta. Phone rings, English ringtone, good sign......... "Hello", Tunde says. "It’s Reno at FC United". I was greeted with Tunde’s usual phrase when he answers the phone..."Hello my friend", "Tunde, I have heard you are back in the UK". " Yes, I landed about 30 minutes ago and my father has just picked me up".

Wow....unreal, if my friend didn’t walk past Tunde in the airport how many clubs would have contacted him. Tunde told me that he wouldn’t be returning to Malta and at this point I asked him if he would be interested in setting up a meeting. Tunde said he would speak to his father and then get back to me. Ok, so, it’s a maybe. Yes, he said...."FC United is such a special club and I am very interested". "Ok, speak soon Tunde". "Goodbye my friend". At that point I didn’t realise that our relationship and phone phrase was about to change for good.

The following day I was sat in the main office at FC United with Viv Ware and some of the staff. We were just chatting and my phone rang, it was Tunde Owolabi. I had already briefed some staff about the possibility of signing Tunde and I shouted in the office "Tunde is ringing!", everyone fell silent. "Hello my friend, would it be possible for my father and myself to come and meet you?" "Absolutely; can you do it today as I’m at the ground?" Tunde agreed and informed me that they would be at the ground within the hour. Wow, here goes, the chance of signing the leading scorer of the Evo-Stik First Division from last season, a player that got in the Team of the Year and won the Supporters’ Player of the Year.......and someone who could possibly solve our goal scoring crisis.

Tunde arrived with his father. I remember thinking, what a pair of true gentlemen. We spoke and then took them for a tour of the ground. As we walked up to the main bar overseeing the pitch, Graham and Jimmy were working hard preparing it for the upcoming game on Saturday, Morpeth at home. The pitch was immaculate, the flags in the SMRE were draped and there was no wind so they were hanging there in their glory. I always pinch myself when I look at the ground from this view and think, ’I am so proud to manage this club’. I looked at Tunde and his father and I remember a silence as they both took in the surroundings. I explained to Tunde that he could become a legend at the club if he signed, scored goals and gave everything for that special badge on your shirt. I said the fans would sing your name, they would cheer you on, the atmosphere would be incredible. It’s hard to imagine now the ground is empty but on Saturday there will be nearly 2,000 packed into here and the place will be rocking.... Visualise scoring on your debut, I said. He just smiled and said, "I would do my best". From that moment I just thought, l love everything about him and I cannot wait for the chance to work with him - well that’s if he agreed to sign.

The stumbling block may be the finances. Tunde said that he had already been contacted by a number of teams, most of them had really good financial backing. I just sank inside thinking, we won’t be able to match what these teams can offer. I said to the pair, what would be a reasonable offer? I explained about our new payment structure and said I wouldn’t break that. I was a bit out from their original amount but I thought....we have this though....look at the club, the facilities, the fan base, the belief, the new squad....surely money can’t buy you that?

I put our final and only offer on the table. They also asked about a contract but I kept to my word that I had given to the fans and the club. No player will dictate to us while I am in charge. Any contracts will only be issued if the club feel you are an asset and you earn one...so I gave them that as a target. I think they liked that, and Tunde’s father certainly appreciated the honesty. We went down into my office - Tunde and his father asked if they could have some time to think about it. I left them and went back in the office; Viv said, "how’s it gone?" I said, "I’m not sure, I think the money may be a problem...nearly every known striker in our league will earn more than what we can offer...", "Can you not improve the offer?" Viv said, "I could but that would go against everything we have said to the club, players and fans. If the players ever found out, what would it do to the dressing room? They all know the pay structure and have all bought into it".

I went back to my office 30 minutes later. I remember looking into Tunde’s eyes and him saying...."Thank you for your offer, the opportunity to play for a club like this may not come again in my career, I have spoken to people about the football you play and what you are like as a manager and I would love to sign for you". I reached out and we shook hands, I then turned to his father and said thank you. We also shook hands, and he said that he was looking forward to Saturday’s game - I said, "Will you be here?" "Of course, I never miss my son’s games".

I asked Tunde if he could sign the paperwork etc. He needed to nip home to get his documents etc. I said that’s fine, we will wait here for you. The pair left and the office was buzzing. I got on the phone to Adrian Seddon to inform him and Tim Browning to confirm that Tunde had agreed to sign. Tim, can you get to the ground please to do the photo shoot and a piece for the fans? - this is huge news for the club. Tim was on his way.

I thought, brilliant, I cannot wait for Saturday. It’s only Thursday morning, so there shouldn’t be a problem completing the paperwork - that’s what I thought!!!!

Tunde and his father arrived back at the club ready to put pen to paper. This was now complete, it was now left to Viv to send the paperwork off to the FA and once we had it back Tunde would be registered and could make his debut on Saturday against Morpeth. The following day Viv rang me and said, "Reno, are you coming to the club today?, there has been a problem with Tunde’s registration" - my heart sank. I said I was around the corner so would be there in two minutes.

Viv informed me that we needed international clearance for Tunde. Oh no, this type of thing usually takes around 2/3 weeks. Everything went through my head, I had gone from euphoria to despair in the space of 24 hours. Viv had been in contact with the FA but I wanted to chance my arm and see what I could do. I have worked with Mark Ives in the past who works in the FA. He was extremely efficient and had helped me out before. I had Mark’s number so I chanced my arm. Phone rings....answerphone, ’hello, this is Mark Ives at the FA, sorry I can’t take your call, please leave a message and I will try and return your call’. Great - I left a message and sat there and waited. I was so twitchy, I remember calling him about twenty times in the afternoon hoping the phone would ring....answerphone, answerphone etc. When he listened to his voicemails he must have thought I best ring him back, this guy sounds desperate, or is totally crazy!!

The end of the day approached and Viv and myself still waited for the phone to ring. It happened....VIV....Mark Ives is ringing!! I spoke to Mark and he apologised saying that he had been non-stop all day. I explained our situation about Tunde and then told him about the season so far, including our injuries, our 27 chances we created against Hyde, our relegation, my position, our desperate need for a nine.....I think he got the point. I said, "I need him for Saturday". He said "there is nothing we can do now as it’s the end of the day but tomorrow this is what you need to do":

1) Ask Tunde to come into the office
2) Contact his club in Malta
3) Get a letter from the club chairman explaining that they no longer wish to hold Tunde’s registration and ask them to email it
4) Contact the Maltese FA and tell them what you have done
5) Ask them to release Tunde’s registration form
6) Give them my direct line and email and ask them to contact me
7) Get Tunde to sign a new form
8) Send it over to the FA and mark it for my attention
9) Call me immediately
10)............ then PRAY!!!

"Thanks Mark, I owe you", "Don’t thank me yet, this is still an impossible task. You need to get hold of Tunde’s ex-chairman etc, hope he is not working, get hold of the Maltese FA (Christ I waited four hours to get hold of the English FA, what chance have I got?), get him to send the letter immediately, get them to release his registration with their FA etc..."

Easy job then, ok Mark, speak tomorrow. I couldn’t wait for the time to pass. 9am on the Friday arrived and Viv and I were back in the office. We were laughing saying, he best be bloody worth it!!

Tunde arrived and we set to work. You have never seen a day like it. Tunde had a friend in Malta that helped us all day with contact numbers, language barrier, you name it, he did everything he could. We contacted Tunde’s ex-manager and he agreed to help us. Now to the Chairman. Tunde called him...explained what we needed, "Ok, I’m just busy and will get back later this afternoon and I will do it". Tunde told me what he said....I took the phone speaking to the chairman like he was my new best friend. I explained the urgency. He either felt sorry for me, couldn’t tell what I was saying or just wanted to get me off the phone. He said he would be home in 30 minutes, call him then. We had a chance... we called back.

The chairman didn’t know what we needed or how he was going to do it, I explained that we needed a letter that must state that you have agreed to release Tunde and he won’t be returning. The chairman still sounded confused so I remember dictating the letter over the phone while he typed - I’m glad it was on Tunde’s phone bill as I had to repeat everything at least five times. When it was complete, I said, "I now need you to send it to Viv Ware", and I gave him the address - OK, he said. "Please let me know when you receive it". I thanked him and put the phone down - 34 minutes after starting the call, I thought, what is he doing?, he is only typing in an email and pressing send on a letter that had 10 sentences in it!!!!

We sat there patiently waiting for the noise of Viv’s email to ping.....we waited and waited. Christ, I was getting so angry....how can it be so hard? It then arrived, however, we couldn’t open the attachment...no idea what he had done. Tunde, get him back on the phone....the cool, calm, calculated manner that I usually give off had now truly disappeared... I could feel myself beginning to lose it... I can’t let Tunde see that (he will have to wait until Runcorn away to see the red mist finally descend), I am trying to give him a good impression. Tunde spoke to his ex-chairman and explained what he needed to do, it came through....stage complete.

That’s points 1, 2 and 3 complete. We are on a roll. Next, Viv said, "we need to contact the Maltese FA". We sent an email and waited patiently. The email arrived back shortly with a contact number on it. We called and explained our position - we did what Mark said and gave them his contact details. They said they would make contact and I asked for their contact details, obviously I was going to ask Mark to contact them first as I knew he would get straight onto it. Tunde signed his form and I said he should go home now and I would call him when we had any news. Jimmy came into the main office and handed Tunde his tracksuit, training kit with number 9 on and said, hopefully we will see you tomorrow. Tunde nodded and left for the day.

We continued to work. The day seemed to go on forever....I remember still being there at 6pm and we still hadn’t had anything official. I called Mark and he answered, he explained that he would stay at work that evening until he had confirmation from the Maltese FA etc. Once we had this he would send all the details to the registrations section at the FA. He sounded hopeful so I guessed we had to be. As long as it’s processed for 11am, Tunde will be allowed to make his debut. Thank you Mark, we ended the call and followed his final point.....NOW PRAY!!!

I thanked and hugged Viv and we left for the day...what a week. What I must add is the amount of times Tunde called me that day to see if there was an update - I just had a really good feeling about him. If we get this completed, tomorrow could be a very special day. All night I remember praying that we could get this signing over the line.

The Saturday arrived. I remember calling Viv around 10am for an update but still nothing. Viv said she would call if she heard anything. I couldn’t wait so I set off to the ground with my son, Jack by my side, as always. He just kept asking "will Tunde play today dad if the paperwork goes through? You never let a player start if they haven’t trained with the squad first. That’s what you have always said" ....He was right...I don’t think I have ever gone back on this...but then I remember saying.... "Jack, this has been the hardest week of my football management life trying to secure a signing, of course he will play..." Jack said, "I hope he does the business then". He is very switched on Jack, and never misses anything I do or say.

I got to the ground in record time, I was there about 10:35. I walked in the office and Viv shouted "It’s come through, Tunde is cleared for the game". Wow...I called Tunde to explain, he sounded so excited. At that moment, the famous phrase ‘my friend’ that Tunde is renowned for had been replaced with a new one. ’Thank you Gaffer, see you soon’ ....this was going to be the start of a very special relationship.

The squad arrived for the game, dressed in their red and black tracksuits. I remember looking at Tunde for the first time dressed in the colours of FC, he looked big and powerful in his normal clothes but I remember thinking, wow, what a presence! The staff went into my office to talk about the team. I said to Brian what Jack had said. Brian understood and questioned his fitness etc... Is he ready to start or will he be better coming off the bench?.......I looked around at the staff and said we have a #9 sat in that dressing room that we have worked tirelessly this week to get in....of course he has to play. Ok, we agreed. I went into the dressing room, introduced our new signing and prepared for the game. I was going against my own philosophy, I won’t make a habit of this but the feeling I had was special....This was going to be our day, I thought, and so it proved to be, our new magical number nine with two goals on his debut in a 4 - 2....we finally had our striker!!

Stay tuned for next week’s edition.....’Down the tunnel and beyond’.

Click here to watch Tunde’s first FC interview!