Tedesco raises profile of Spartans' financial plight

Victor Tedesco, the Hamrun Spartans president, has raised the profile of his club's financial plight in the hope of rallying support, especially from the government.

"Our club is passing through a torrid time, especially with regards to finances. Faced with endless criticism and insinuations against the work of the current administration, we decided to publicly explain the circumstances that led to this difficult situation. This decision was made for the sake of transparency," Tedesco told a news conference yesterday.

While highlighting what he termed as Hamrun Spartans' special contribution to Maltese football during a glorious era in the 80s and early 90s, Tedesco claimed that the club is still suffering the repercussions of circumstances that occurred over the last two decades.

"We are the victims of the circumstances that have shaped Maltese football over the last 20 years," Tedesco remarked.

He said that it was during the club's successful period that they drew up plans to have their own stadium, also in view of the MFA's policy to have its top flight matches played every week in different stadia.

"The club's total expenditure for the completion of the stadium totalled Lm175,000. This sum does not include the financial assistance and other works carried out by the government.

"Perhaps, this project was too big for the club but we were determined to fulfil our dream. In 1996 we signed a contract with the MFA to stage matches at our ground as from 1997-98," Tedesco said.

"Obviously, the huge costs incurred to complete the stadium affected the club's financial health. But our main stumbling block over the last few years has been an outstanding debt of Lm20,000 which we still owe to the contractor in charge of works," Tedesco said.

"Unfortunately, the committee before this one did not have the means to continue to settle payments. The contractor instituted legal proceedings against the club and obtained a sequestration. As a result, our finances have been frozen and Hamrun were deprived of their due income from the Malta FA.

"Recently, a new company called Hamrun Supporters Limited was also created to help the club. This company went to great lengths to ensure that they go about their business in a professional manner and they were indeed of great assistance to the club," the Hamrun Spartans chief added.

"But what happened then? The contractor filed a suit against this new body, barring it from handing money to Hamrun Spartans."

Tedesco said that when last season he accepted to return as president of Hamrun Spartans, he forked out a considerable sum of money to ensure that the club could operate, especially in view of the transfer ban imposed by the MFA over debts owed to players and clubs.

"In the last two years, Hamrun have only received Lm4,000 from our sponsor and Lm8,000 from a company which prefers to remain unnamed," Tedesco said.

Tedesco claimed that despite the hard work of the committee to tackle the problem, the debts have continued to accumulate because the club had no financial income to address the deficit.

Invitation to 'rebels'

"Hamrun Spartans have fallen on hard times but instead of uniting our efforts to emerge from this crisis, some people have seized the opportunity to create friction," Tedesco claimed.

"There seems to be a small group of people who are willing to take over. It seems that they want to assume control of the stadium with the purpose of using it to generate money.

"I invite these people to come forward. We are ready to make room for them if they present concrete plans.

"The committee's priority is the good of the club and if something can be done to boost Hamrun, we are prepared to make way. I take this opportunity to issue an invitation to those who really have Hamrun Spartans at heart, to talk to us rather than cause problems," Tedesco said.

When asked who the masterminds behind this group were, Tedesco replied: "I don't know. So far we have only received a letter which was passed to us by Anton Attard, the club's administrator."

Tedesco also called on the government, MFA and fellow clubs to help Hamrun Spartans.

"The government pledged its financial support to help us continue another phase of the stadium project, namely the building of a clubhouse, cafeteria and an underlying car park.

"We had started works on this phase but encountered another problem over the necessary permits after a MEPA inspector visited the site. This happened in spite of the fact that the plans had been ratified by all the bodies concerned.

"My appeal to the government is to help the club by paying the Lm20,000 to the contractor and then, we'll complete the project. Such move will save the club because we will then be able to receive the money that is due to us," Tedesco said.

The Spartans president, who admitted that the players have not been paid their wages since August, also called on clubs to show more understanding.

"We are only asking for time to sort these problems out.

" The MFA, especially its top officials, should also bear in mind that the clubs are the catalysts of football and therefore, part of its success is also owed to the clubs."

According to Tedesco, Hamrun Spartans' total debt to other clubs, namely Birkirkara, Hibernians, Floriana and Balzan Youths, amounts to around Lm30,000.

The financial plight of Hamrun also seems to have taken its toll on the team. The Spartans are second from bottom with only five points in the Premier League.

Faced with the question whether the club are prepared to sell its prominent players in order to ease their financial troubles, Tedesco said:

"We are ready to consider any solutions but our squad is already limited. Suffice to say that the coach does not have 11 first-squad players at his disposal for Sunday's game against Floriana because of injuries.

"I believe we would only be pressing the suicide button if we sell our best players this season."