Michael was in his office, but his mind was elsewhere.
A small, satisfied smirk on his face as he watched the 24-hour sports news broadcast on the large TV mounted to his wall.
The "Collapsing Club" narrative was dead, replaced by a story of such bewildering, chaotic success that the media had no choice but to embrace it.
"I just don't get it, Jeff!" a red-faced, gesticulating pundit was shouting.
"It makes no sense! Their genius manager is in a hospital bed! Their vice-captain is suspended in a doping scandal! And yet, they go out and win 2-1 with an 18-year-old nobody making his professional debut? Nobody knows how they're doing it!"
"I'll tell you how, Gary," the other pundit replied, leaning forward with a self-satisfied, "I-knew-it-all-along" expression.
"It's the 'Barnsley Way.' It's what I've been saying all along. This isn't a fluke; it's a philosophy. It's heart. It's youth. It's the most exciting story in English football."
