Just as news of the acquisition was being hotly debated across major forums, another piece of news gradually caught everyone's attention.
"For 80 pounds, you can become a member of an England professional football club!"
As Li Jianqin wished, under the widespread interest in Cambridge United's acquisition by Chinese nationals for 1 pound, this news quickly became a hot topic in the domestic sports scene.
It detailed how to join Cambridge United for 10 pounds, gain official membership status, enjoy discounted tickets and priority purchase rights, receive discounts on club merchandise, and visit the club's facilities annually, quickly attracting a large number of football enthusiasts.
Official media reports lent credibility to this fundraising effort. In just half a month, Cambridge United suddenly gained over 30,000 Chinese members, bringing in a significant 330,000 pounds in funding for the club's accounts!
This news once again went viral, becoming a headline in London and the domestic sports sections!
"Chinese Fans Step Up, Saving Cambridge United!"
It could be said that Cambridge United gained immense popularity from this wave!
Soon, Cambridge United's official website and various official media accounts in China were all in place, with their popularity and momentum even surpassing that of major powerhouses!
Especially given the sluggish state of domestic football, Cambridge United, like a clear stream, seemed to become a spiritual anchor for domestic fans.
Huang Hao never expected the power of domestic netizens to be so strong; in comparison, only 3,000 local Cambridge United fans joined.
In just two weeks, Cambridge United received 680,000 pounds in funding, including Li Jianqin's 300,000 investment, Bird's Nest Bar owner Ron's 50,000 pounds, and 330,000 pounds in membership fees...
Although Barry left the club, the team's staff remained unchanged, so daily management did not require much of Huang Hao's energy.
Li Jianqin, on the other hand, served as the team's Commercial Operations Director, primarily responsible for Cambridge United's domestic operations, including the management of domestic shareholders and daily fan interaction.
Bird's Nest Bar owner Ron's support was more personal for Huang Hao, although Huang Hao promised him many benefits, including dividends and season tickets.
Thus, at the age of 28, Huang Hao not only achieved his dream of becoming a Head Coach but also transformed into the true leader of a team.
Cambridge United also became the most unique England football club in history.
Although Wolves and Birmingham have Chinese capital backgrounds, and Liverpool and Manchester United have American capital backgrounds, Cambridge United is the only one in all of England to operate on a membership system.
For these Chinese fans, spending hundreds or thousands of yuan to become a club member and potentially compete against powerhouses like Manchester United and Arsenal is a dream, but what if it comes true?
While others struggle to get tickets, they can easily secure theirs, which is incredibly prestigious!
For Huang Hao, the challenge had just begun; the 600,000-plus pounds could only sustain the team's salary expenses and short-term debt contracts for a few months, and the team's future would depend on his own management.
After all, he now had tens of thousands of compatriots from his homeland behind him; bankruptcy and relegation were simply no longer possible for Cambridge United.
Returning to the team, Huang Hao held the dual roles of Head Coach and Club Chairman.
Now in complete control of life and death, he exuded an aura of authority without needing to express anger.
Harris, Bennett, and others, after their initial shock, understood their situation.
Underhandedly, they had already entrusted their agents to help them find new homes.
Huang Hao did not obstruct them; on the contrary, these high-salaried players were one of Cambridge United's current pain points. After all, their combined weekly wages of over 10,000 pounds were not something the team could afford at this time.
When Huang Hao stood by the training ground again, the team's assembly speed was like night and day compared to when he first took office!
It seemed the power of the Club Executive Chairman's identity was truly formidable.
Looking at the somewhat young but vibrant faces before him, Huang Hao's resolve to cultivate a youth guard became even stronger.
This time, his speech was less sharp and more encouraging.
"I know you must be surprised by my new identity, and so is my grandmother."
Hearing this familiar opening, many players laughed.
"Considering the club doesn't have the money to hire a high-level Head Coach, I will still stand here and fight alongside you."
After speaking, Huang Hao surveyed the team.
Harris, Perrotta, and Bennett, once the team's big names, had all disappeared from the U23 squad.
The team's average age had instantly dropped to 22.
"If, before today, you fought for the team, I hope that from today onwards, you fight for yourselves!"
"I believe you all know in the past few days why I suddenly became the team's owner. I want to tell you, I am not here to take the blame for Mr. Barry or to bear the infamy of the team's dissolution. Rather, I hope to lead you all to win this battle to defend Cambridge United!"
Watching the fighting spirit gradually ignite on the players' faces, Huang Hao continued:
"You know, this is the fifth-tier League; we have no fame, no substantial income, so we shouldn't belong here!"
"At the end of this season, our goal is still League Two!"
Huang Hao's words resonated with everyone present.
Because Cambridge United's current position in the League table was not in the promotion zone, but rather one step away from the relegation zone.
"You don't need to be surprised; the League has just begun. As long as you firmly believe, our dream does not belong in such an amateur League!"
"If any of you feel you like it here, no problem, there are many of your teammates in the reserve team!" Huang Hao paused, but evidently, no one had such a thought.
"Now, tell me loudly! Our goal is!!!"
"League Two!!!"
The dream of promotion echoed throughout the Cambridge United training ground at that moment.
Cambridge United, led by the Club Chairman himself, became the most unique presence in the National League.
And Cambridge United did not disappoint the fans who still came to the stadium; in the subsequent matches, they swept away their previous slump, bravely drawing Grays Athletic 3-3 away. McConnell, Sager, and the promoted youngster Bell each scored a goal.
Returning home, Cambridge United easily defeated the higher-ranked Altrincham 4-0.
As Huang Hao said, in the lower-tier Leagues, apart from tactics, the gap in skill between teams is not significant. It is more about testing the players' willpower and fighting spirit.
After all, not every team has a dream of promotion; there are many players like Harris and Bennett who are content with dominating the lower-tier Leagues. Therefore, when Cambridge United truly became serious, victory seemed much easier.
In the morning, Huang Hao led a man towards the training ground, "Everyone, pause for a moment. Let me introduce you to my alumnus from Cambridge University's Institute of Sport, Thomas Gronemark. Everyone, please welcome him..."
"For the time being, Thomas will be our team's part-time coach, specifically teaching you how to throw any throw-in."
"Isn't a throw-in just about having hands?" Everyone discussed amongst themselves.
"There's an old Chinese saying, 'one step faster, every step faster.' Do you know how to take a quick throw-in? How to throw the ball into the six-yard box? As long as you train according to Thomas's requirements, you can all become throw-in masters."
From then on, in addition to regular training, everyone had an extra throw-in practice every day.
On September 28th, Cambridge United drew Burton 2-2 at home.
On October 1st, they drew Southport 2-2 away.
On October 8th, Cambridge United returned home and defeated Tamworth, who were in the relegation zone, 2-0. In the 65th minute of the match, the 'grenade throw-in' tactic was used for the first time; Clark's throw-in was flat and fast, and the Tamworth players didn't react in time. Bell flicked it on at the near post, and Sager easily scored at the far post.
On October 11th, Cambridge United, playing away, defeated the higher-ranked Halifax with the only goal of the match, scored by Cole from a free-kick in the 45th minute.
Because there were almost no broadcasting channels, Li Jianqin's work became very busy. For every match, he had to edit the match footage and quickly post it on the team's official domestic accounts.
In addition to tens of thousands of members, many fans also gradually became followers of the team, as everyone hoped for a positive spiritual anchor.
On October 29th, Cambridge United returned home and cleanly defeated Crawley 3-0.
On November 12th, they won 1-0 away against Morecambe, thus promoting Cambridge United into the promotion zone.
On November 19th, Cambridge United defeated Aldershot 2-0.
On December 3rd, they defeated Scarborough 2-1.
At this point, Huang Hao's influence in the players' hearts grew daily, and fans gradually ignited their passion for this Cambridge United team, led by an Easterner, as promotion no longer seemed like an unattainable goal.
They had waited too long for this moment.
Huang Hao knew that the upcoming second half of the season would be the most crucial. After all, the National League schedule was too dense, and for Cambridge United, whose player reserves were not abundant, the real test probably lay ahead. Therefore, strengthening the team during the winter transfer window became a key task.
Plagued by debt, Huang Hao still didn't have much money to spend in the transfer market; these lean times would likely last for a long while.
So, Huang Hao still focused primarily on the loan market. After all, among the many powerhouses, there were many talented young players who weren't getting playing time; although they might not look favorably upon Cambridge United, it was still worth a try.
Additionally, in the winter transfer window, Huang Hao also needed to resolve the issues with the reserve team.
After all, Cambridge United's reserve team was currently too luxurious; even opposing Head Coaches in U23 matches were astonished.
The main problem was that the salaries of several players were a huge expense for Cambridge United, which was in crisis, and in England, wage arrears were not as easy to manage as they were in China.