Sinister yet vaguely familiar, the voice on the phone conveyed a grave ultimatum.
In essence, Geoff Merrick was being warned to tear up his contract with Bristol City to save the club from extinction – or the intimidating caller would send the boys round.
The Robins had run out of road at the bank, and the only option to stave off apocalypse was for the club captain and the seven other highest-paid players to take voluntary redundancy.
