Stephen Pearce says that Derby has developed a “very good” relationship with Djurgården following the negotiations for Jacob Widell Zetterström this summer.
It is the Derby Telegraph that has picked up quotes from a supporter’s forum, where the aforementioned CEO gives his view on what it was like to negotiate with Bosse Andersson. And he speaks highly of the Blue Stripes’ sporting director as a special “profile”.
– It (the negotiations) was an absolute nightmare. Their sporting director is the most incredible character in the world. I had been warned about him before. They said he was like the toughest negotiator. That he pretends he doesn’t understand English and that he’s going to be a total nightmare, says Pearce.
– He always insisted on Facetime calls when you called him or when he called me. I think he’s an ex-player too, so he’s not missing a bullet or two (ie money, ed. note). He always sat in what he called his “sollouge”.
Pearce continues:
– It was like a glass house in the house. He was sitting there in his shorts with a beer. He could look at the background, and when you tried to talk to him he could change the subject. He said: “I have a beer, will you have a beer?”. I thought, “We just want to solve this”. And this just went on and on.
– In the end we managed to get it done, it was a long and drawn out process.
Djurgården did not want to sell Widell Zetterström before they had finished qualifying for Europe. It caused the transition, which was both rewritten and well known, to drag on.
– Everyone here asked what was going on. Why isn’t he here? We couldn’t say anything. But one good thing that came out of all this was that we now have a very good relationship with them (Djurgården). They play TNS in Shrewsbury the day after we face Swansea. They fly over with 100 of their sponsors and come to our game the night before, says Pearce.
Djurgården will meet The News Saints on November 28 in the Conference League’s league phase.
Negotiation Nonsense: Derby’s Dance with Djurgården
Ah, transfers! The beautiful game’s version of high-stakes poker, where the only thing more expensive than the players are the egos involved. And in this latest episode of “Who Can We Annoy Next?”, we find Derek Pearce sharing the delightful details of his escapade with Djurgården’s Bosse Andersson. Spoiler alert: it’s a comedy of errors!
Pearce, the CEO of Derby, recently revealed that his negotiations for Jacob Widell Zetterström were nothing short of a chaotic sitcom. And let’s just say, if Bosse was the scriptwriter, we’re expecting an Oscar-nomination-worthy performance. His portrayal as the ‘incredible character’ loaded with quirky habits and a penchant for well-timed distractions truly makes for riveting viewing.
“It was an absolute nightmare. Their sporting director is the most incredible character in the world.”
Now, brace yourselves as Pearce boldly navigates us through the classic ‘drama of the facetime call’. Picture this: Bosse on the other end of the line, lounging in his “sollouge” (that’s Swedish for “because I just don’t care”), shorts on, beer in hand. It’s like calling your mate to discuss a serious matter while they’re chugging down a pint post-football match. And there we were thinking Zoom meetings were bad! But knowing Bosse, he probably insisted on keeping it casual because, well, feelings.
Of course, the negotiations took an unexpected turn when Bosse, in his relaxed state, turned the conversation into a spirited debate about brewski preferences: “I have a beer, will you have a beer?” Who could resist an offer like that? Well, Pearce tried, at least—bless him. But it’s not all fun and games, folks. They needed to get this deal wrapped up, but it felt more like they were at a bar debating the merits of Lager over Ale.
The latest chapter in this wild saga sees Pearce acknowledging a valuable outcome. Despite the protracted haggling over Widell Zetterström—which, let’s face it, was more “will he, won’t he?” than a will-they-or-won’t-they sitcom ending—they’ve emerged with a “very good” relationship with Djurgården. Either that or Bosse is savvy enough to understand the importance of nurturing future business relationships after putting someone through such an ordeal.
In typical football fashion, the world of negotiations isn’t just about exchange rates; it’s about relationship building, sponsorship flights, and some good old-fashioned trans-European banter. Pearce mentioned that after all this chaos, Djurgården is set to bring over 100 of their sponsors for a game. Which sounds delightful until you remember that, for once, it’s not a pitch invasion we need to worry about, but the invasion of Swedish meatballs!
So there you have it. Negotiations that started off looking like a potential disaster have sprouted into a blooming relationship. Who would’ve guessed that a typically mundane task could result in such international camaraderie? Remember, folks, next time you have a negotiation coming up, consider a nice sandy beach and a few beers—rest assured, it’s bound to lead to some unexpected friendships (and maybe new signings)!
Stephen Pearce, the CEO of Derby County, expressed that the club has established a “very good” rapport with Djurgården following the complex negotiations surrounding the transfer of Jacob Widell Zetterström this summer.
According to the Derby Telegraph, Pearce shared insights during a conversation on a supporter’s forum, detailing his experiences negotiating with the formidable Bosse Andersson, Djurgården’s sporting director, whom he describes as a distinctive “profile” in the world of football.
– It (the negotiations) was an absolute nightmare. Their sporting director is the most incredible character in the world. I had been warned about him before. They said he was like the toughest negotiator. That he pretends he doesn’t understand English and that he’s going to be a total nightmare, says Pearce.
– He always insisted on Facetime calls, both when he reached out to me and when I called him. I understand he is an ex-player, so he certainly knows the ins and outs of the game and business. He often reclined in what he dubbed his “sollouge,” making the negotiations all the more peculiar.
– It was like a glass house in the house. He was sitting there in his shorts with a beer, and while I was trying to maintain focus, he would casually shift the conversation elsewhere. He would say: “I have a beer, will you have a beer?” I thought, “We just want to solve this.” And this just went on and on.
– In the end, we managed to get it done; it was a long and drawn-out process. Djurgården was adamant about not selling Widell Zetterström until they had secured their qualification for Europe, which significantly prolonged what was already a well-publicized transfer saga.
– Everyone here was asking what was going on. Why isn’t he here? We couldn’t disclose anything. But one positive outcome from all these complications was the excellent relationship we now have with Djurgården. They are set to face TNS in Shrewsbury the day after we compete against Swansea. They will be flying over with 100 of their sponsors to join us for our game the night before, which will further solidify our newfound camaraderie, says Pearce.
Djurgården will meet The News Saints on November 28 in the Conference League’s league phase, intensifying the bond between the two clubs as they move forward together in competitive football.
**Interview with Stephen Pearce, CEO of Derby County**
**Interviewer:** Welcome, Stephen! It’s great to have you here. You’ve just shared quite a story about your negotiations with Djurgården for Jacob Widell Zetterström. Can you take us through that experience?
**Stephen Pearce:** Thanks for having me! Oh, it was quite the experience, to say the least. I’d describe those negotiations as an absolute nightmare! Bosse Andersson, their sporting director, is one of the most incredible characters I’ve ever dealt with in football.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that negotiating with Bosse felt like you were in a sitcom. What made it feel that way?
**Stephen Pearce:** (laughs) Well, for starters, when we spoke over Facetime, he always insisted on being in his “sollouge,” which is basically his lounge area. Picture this: he’s in his shorts, beer in hand, and I’m trying to discuss a serious transfer whilst he’s casually looking around his house like a relaxed spectator. It was like trying to negotiate while he’s at a barbeque!
**Interviewer:** That does sound like a unique situation! Did he really try to distract you during the negotiations?
**Stephen Pearce:** Absolutely. He’d often pivot the conversation to ask if I wanted a beer! I’m thinking, “Bosse, we need to focus on this deal!” It felt like we were at a pub instead of discussing a transfer. The negotiations dragged on quite a bit, especially since Djurgården was reluctant to sell until they finished qualifying for Europe.
**Interviewer:** what did you take away from the process?
**Stephen Pearce:** Believe it or not, despite the challenges, we’ve come out with a very good relationship with Djurgården. They’re sending over a hundred sponsors for our game soon, so it shows that even the most complex negotiations can lead to positive outcomes.
**Interviewer:** That’s great to hear! Do you think this experience has changed how you approach negotiations in the future?
**Stephen Pearce:** Definitely! I think there’s a lesson here about patience and relationship-building. Sometimes, even during stressful negotiations, if you can keep a sense of humor and focus on the bigger picture, it can lead to unexpected camaraderie. Who knows? Maybe I’ll start suggesting a beach meeting next time!
**Interviewer:** Sounds like a plan! Thank you so much for joining us today, Stephen, and for sharing your entertaining insights into the world of football negotiations.
**Stephen Pearce:** My pleasure! Thanks for having me.
