New president Sandro Rosell revealed on Tuesday that the first priority of the new board is to improve the short-term financial situation of the Club. He confirmed that the Club will be asking for a syndicated credit of 150 million euros.
Mr Rosell announced on Tuesday: “We found the Club in debt and with cash flow tensions but
we’re sorting that out”. However, he assured the membership that the situation would be
resolved over the next few days: “The membership needn’t be concerned. The Club
isn’t bankrupt. This week we’ll have everything in place to impose a policy of
austerity to be able to make savings in unnecessary areas and meet very important commitments such
as paying the wages of our players, coaches and employees”.
Syndicated credit of 150 million euros
“We have to improve our cash flow to meet our short-term
commitments. In the next few days, our vice-president for economic affairs will close a deal for a
syndicated credit of 150 million euros”. Mr Rosell confirmed that the sale of Dmitro
Chygrynskiy had been motivated by the financial needs of the Club as well as footballing
considerations.
No increase in membership fee
He explained that the previous board had already applied for the credit, “knowing that
there weren’t sufficient resources”. The negotiations with the banks have followed on
from the moves made by the previous board, “but with the difference that our business plan
does not contemplate an annual rise in the price of the membership fee, a clause which does figure
in the previous negotiation”.
Meetings for Rosell in South Africa
Sandro Rosell is due to fly out to South Africa next Friday where he will conduct a series of
meetings of interest to FC Barcelona. This means that he will be unable to attend a demonstration
against a recent ruling of the Spanish Supreme Court restricting the independence of the Catalan
Parliament. However, he emphasized that the Club would be represented. “The members voted for
a president and for 18 other board members. We are a team and we all represent FC Barcelona. In
this case our representatives will be vice-president Jordi Cardoner and board members Jordi Moix
and Pilar Guinovart”.
“We have to sort out Johan Cruyff’s situation”
Rosell expressed his regret at the situation that has been created by
the return of the insignia accrediting Johan Cruyff as Honorary President: “Johan Cruyff is a
living legend of the Club and he should be treated as he deserves”. However, he denied that
the matter had tarnished the image of the Club given that the position of honorary president is not
contemplated in the Club Statutes. He explained that the matter would be resolved at a general
assembly of members’ representatives.
TV deals
The Club has been experiencing problems regarding the payment for rights to broadcast
Barça’s matches on TV. Today Mr Rosell explained: “We have spoken to representatives of
Mediapro about their situation because everyone believes that they are in receivership”. He
explained that Mediapro had given him assurances that the money owed would be paid but Mr Rosell
insisted that he would not be satisfied until the money arrived. He pointed out that unlike TV
deals with other clubs such as Real Madrid, Barça only had a verbal guarantee of payment.
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Match schedules
As part of the conversations with Mediapro, the kick-off times of matches was discussed: “We
can talk about it in more detail as regards 2014. Remember, three days before the elections the
previous board extended the deal for another year”.
However, the days and kick-off times for the return leg of the Spanish Super Cup and the Joan
Gamper Trophy have already been confirmed. The Super Cup match will kick off at 8.30 pm in the Camp
Nou on 21st August. The Joan Gamper Trophy will be played on 25th August at 7.45 pm, though this
has still to be finally confirmed.