Fadesa's Latest Victim - Ayamonte FC
Jun 22nd 2009, 11:50 am
#1
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Fadesa's Latest Victim - Ayamonte FC
Ayamonte FC is on the verge of disappearing, thanks to the deal struck between previous Ayamonte mayor, Rafael Gonzalez, and Martinsa-Fadesa.
Big business making backroom deals with political entities to ensure smooth running of their interests is nothing new all over the world. But the time honoured way of a cash-filled briefcase casually 'forgotton' in the mayors office has become increasing risky over the last few years. So more inventive, and more importantly 'legal' ways were found. So if a developer needed certain things to go through and ask what the best way to facilitate that would be, he might be told that the council couldn't possibly be seen to be bought as it had to be fair to everyone. Although, a generous gift for the benefit of the town would show certain developer in a favourable light and show their committment to the town.
So it was then just a few years back that a deal was struck for Martinsa-Fadesa to be the local club 'sponsor' but to all intents and purposes it was the clubs financial backer - can't remember the exact figures but they were to commit to €150,000 per season. Yet it came out just after the news of the demise of Fadesa that Ayamonte FC hadn't in fact recieved money for quite some time from MF, but as their backer was considered 'sound', the club were able to borrow from the bank based on future payments from MF. The last season has been largely funded by the club's president out of his own savings.
The club was founded in 1930. Back in around 2004-5 ish, they were struggling in the bottom depths of the Spanish league system. It was around then the deal was struck to take them up. They made it to the Tercera Division (equivalent English Conference) with aspirations to make it to 2B, with just the Segunda Division seperating them from the likes of Barça and Real Madrid. Included in all this of course was the lovely new stadiums that Ayamonte has.
After a big meeting on Friday, the club's board stepped down, and unless a new backer is found to settle the existing debts - including several months unpaid wages - and put in place a financial plan for the forthcoming season by tomorrow (Tuesday 23 June), the club will officially fold after 80 seasons.
Shame, really. If they fold, they will have to start again, under a slightly changed name, and a few divisions down, back at the bottom. This would also lead to an exodus of the players and coaches.
Spanish link here: http://www.huelvainformacion.es/arti.../ayamonte.html
Big business making backroom deals with political entities to ensure smooth running of their interests is nothing new all over the world. But the time honoured way of a cash-filled briefcase casually 'forgotton' in the mayors office has become increasing risky over the last few years. So more inventive, and more importantly 'legal' ways were found. So if a developer needed certain things to go through and ask what the best way to facilitate that would be, he might be told that the council couldn't possibly be seen to be bought as it had to be fair to everyone. Although, a generous gift for the benefit of the town would show certain developer in a favourable light and show their committment to the town.
So it was then just a few years back that a deal was struck for Martinsa-Fadesa to be the local club 'sponsor' but to all intents and purposes it was the clubs financial backer - can't remember the exact figures but they were to commit to €150,000 per season. Yet it came out just after the news of the demise of Fadesa that Ayamonte FC hadn't in fact recieved money for quite some time from MF, but as their backer was considered 'sound', the club were able to borrow from the bank based on future payments from MF. The last season has been largely funded by the club's president out of his own savings.
The club was founded in 1930. Back in around 2004-5 ish, they were struggling in the bottom depths of the Spanish league system. It was around then the deal was struck to take them up. They made it to the Tercera Division (equivalent English Conference) with aspirations to make it to 2B, with just the Segunda Division seperating them from the likes of Barça and Real Madrid. Included in all this of course was the lovely new stadiums that Ayamonte has.
After a big meeting on Friday, the club's board stepped down, and unless a new backer is found to settle the existing debts - including several months unpaid wages - and put in place a financial plan for the forthcoming season by tomorrow (Tuesday 23 June), the club will officially fold after 80 seasons.
Shame, really. If they fold, they will have to start again, under a slightly changed name, and a few divisions down, back at the bottom. This would also lead to an exodus of the players and coaches.
Spanish link here: http://www.huelvainformacion.es/arti.../ayamonte.html
Jun 23rd 2009, 9:14 am
#2
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Re: Fadesa's Latest Victim - Ayamonte FC
UPDATE:
It seems the figure I gave in the previous post was underestimated somewhat. MF had guaranteed 300,000 € per season which makes the situation even worse.
Speaking to someone connected to the club who also works on the council yesterday, he said that they (the council) 'rue the day they got involved with MF' and that the company has put so much burden on the Ayamontinos thanks to the 'millions it owes us' plus they now have brought down the club, part of the town's history.
The millions he refers to is a matter for debate as to how much the exact figure is. It has been reported that the actual figure is over 2 million, but this guy reckons it is much more. He said that the 2 million might be a direct debt that is owing, but there are a lot of indirect debts thanks to the council having to pick up the slack when MF went under.
The mayor has said that he won't let the club disappear in a newspaper interview. But what he has also said is that the council cannot foot the bill for the future of the club (nor cannot it settle its past debts - "I believe that sooner or later the club and the council will have the debt paid") which does not guarantee its future in its current guise, leading them to drop 4 divisions and start again.
He said that the council "are doing everything possible (to save the club) but people have to understand that the current economic circumstances is what it is" but he also warned that the banks "don't open up possibilities to us like they would do to Florentino Perez (President of Real Madrid)"
When asked if on Tuesday (today) the club would end up in the hands of the council, he said that it wouldn't be the ideal situation but if that is what has to happen that is what they will do. "What the club members and Ayamonte citizens have to understand is that this name (Ayamonte FC) will not disappear."
Reading that, one might think then the club should be safe. But if the money can't be found, the club will have to fold and drop to the bottom. OK, the name won't disappear but the club would need at least 4 years to get back to the stage they are now, assuming they get promoted each season.
When asked what he would say to the fans, he said:
"I want to make an appeal to the people and businesses of Ayamonte for help, knowing that they could not support shelling out 300,000 € that Mr Martin (president MF) had promised, but between all of us we could make it work, if everyone of (the population) gave 10€ we would have 180,000 €."
Yet he did recognise that to ask local businessmen to help with substantial funds would be extremely difficult in these unsertain times.
The interview was in Odiel but I can't post the link as due to their poor website, they don't let people access archives (it was only yesterday FFS!) without a password
It seems the figure I gave in the previous post was underestimated somewhat. MF had guaranteed 300,000 € per season which makes the situation even worse.
Speaking to someone connected to the club who also works on the council yesterday, he said that they (the council) 'rue the day they got involved with MF' and that the company has put so much burden on the Ayamontinos thanks to the 'millions it owes us' plus they now have brought down the club, part of the town's history.
The millions he refers to is a matter for debate as to how much the exact figure is. It has been reported that the actual figure is over 2 million, but this guy reckons it is much more. He said that the 2 million might be a direct debt that is owing, but there are a lot of indirect debts thanks to the council having to pick up the slack when MF went under.
The mayor has said that he won't let the club disappear in a newspaper interview. But what he has also said is that the council cannot foot the bill for the future of the club (nor cannot it settle its past debts - "I believe that sooner or later the club and the council will have the debt paid") which does not guarantee its future in its current guise, leading them to drop 4 divisions and start again.
He said that the council "are doing everything possible (to save the club) but people have to understand that the current economic circumstances is what it is" but he also warned that the banks "don't open up possibilities to us like they would do to Florentino Perez (President of Real Madrid)"
When asked if on Tuesday (today) the club would end up in the hands of the council, he said that it wouldn't be the ideal situation but if that is what has to happen that is what they will do. "What the club members and Ayamonte citizens have to understand is that this name (Ayamonte FC) will not disappear."
Reading that, one might think then the club should be safe. But if the money can't be found, the club will have to fold and drop to the bottom. OK, the name won't disappear but the club would need at least 4 years to get back to the stage they are now, assuming they get promoted each season.
When asked what he would say to the fans, he said:
"I want to make an appeal to the people and businesses of Ayamonte for help, knowing that they could not support shelling out 300,000 € that Mr Martin (president MF) had promised, but between all of us we could make it work, if everyone of (the population) gave 10€ we would have 180,000 €."
Yet he did recognise that to ask local businessmen to help with substantial funds would be extremely difficult in these unsertain times.
The interview was in Odiel but I can't post the link as due to their poor website, they don't let people access archives (it was only yesterday FFS!) without a password
Jun 25th 2009, 9:53 am
#3
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Re: Fadesa's Latest Victim - Ayamonte FC
FURTHER UPDATE:
The former president of Ayamonte FC has officially handed over control to the council. In an emotive meeting where around 50 fans were also in attendance, the mayor repeated that he would not let the club disappear. The former president asked for the council to bail out the club and also make sure funds were made available for the coming season so that the club could continue in their current division. Yet the council ruled out putting up the 100,000 € Ayamonte FC would need right now in order to continue. The mayor did say that various companies had been approached to sponser the club - Cajasol, Aldesa and Isla Canela.
Here's the big sticking point. Any future sponsors may not be interested in settling past debts. If the council cannot settle that, it looks inevitable the club will be forced to carry on but from the bottom tier.
The mayor said at the meeting that the name will not disappear but they rule out putting money into it in the current climate which would mean that the club will continue but in a lower category (division). This statement was reported in Odiel not in the link below. As stated before, Odiel site poor for posting links (ie don't exist!!!)
http://www.huelvainformacion.es/arti...crucijada.html
The former president of Ayamonte FC has officially handed over control to the council. In an emotive meeting where around 50 fans were also in attendance, the mayor repeated that he would not let the club disappear. The former president asked for the council to bail out the club and also make sure funds were made available for the coming season so that the club could continue in their current division. Yet the council ruled out putting up the 100,000 € Ayamonte FC would need right now in order to continue. The mayor did say that various companies had been approached to sponser the club - Cajasol, Aldesa and Isla Canela.
Here's the big sticking point. Any future sponsors may not be interested in settling past debts. If the council cannot settle that, it looks inevitable the club will be forced to carry on but from the bottom tier.
The mayor said at the meeting that the name will not disappear but they rule out putting money into it in the current climate which would mean that the club will continue but in a lower category (division). This statement was reported in Odiel not in the link below. As stated before, Odiel site poor for posting links (ie don't exist!!!)
http://www.huelvainformacion.es/arti...crucijada.html
Jun 25th 2009, 12:33 pm
#4
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Posts: 1,022
Re: Fadesa's Latest Victim - Ayamonte FC
Its not just small local clubs affected for instance London Welsh have gone into administration today with just enough money left for a month. They were formed in 1885.
Jun 25th 2009, 5:28 pm
#5
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Re: Fadesa's Latest Victim - Ayamonte FC
It is gutting for Ayamonte though. These past few yeas have been for nothing. Although they are a 'rival' team to me, it is terrible to see them in this state through no fault of their own.
