[picture] The second debate

The four presidential candidates held last night the second presidential candidates debate on Spanish television station TVE.

From left to right:
Sandro Rosell, Jaume Ferrer, Marc Ingla, Agustí Benedito

Former player Archibald linked with elections

Asked if he has received a proposal to join a candidacy that will take part in the presidential elections, former Barcelona player Steve Archibald didn't want to enter the issue in an interview with Spanish television station TVE:

"Oh man, you know you cannot ask those things. Certainly not when we're live on air. You could ask me after the show. While we're drinking a beer."

Steve Archibald played for Barcelona from 1984 to 1988, winning a Spanish league title in 1985. The former striker is currently a player's agent and lives in Barcelona. The 53-year old Scotsman is also a radio and television pundit at Barcelona's official media and regularly takes part in games played by the club's retired footballers.

Read more:
Former player Belletti gives support to Rosell
Three 'Dream Team' players in candidacy Guixa
Rexach confirms his support for Rosell

Former director Castells considering election role

Asked about the rumours that he could again run for president of FC Barcelona in the upcoming elections (read more here), former Barcelona vice-president Joan Castells has confirmed in an interview with Spanish television channel TVE that he is analyzing how he could take part:

"I'm sincerely thinking about it, together with other people who helped me in the Barça elections before. We are discussing if, seeing how the situation is now, we really want to do something or support someone, because we have received proposals. We sat around the table but at this moment nothing concrete has been decided.

I think we are a group of people with a lot of experience and knowledge about the world of football. We could add something, there are several options and we are looking at the issue. Talks with Rosell, Ferrer, Godall? Well, we are talking with a lot people.

We think it might be a good moment. As far as I'm concerned, because of the age I have, if I don't do it now, I will probably never do it again. Because you should also take into account that the mandates will now be for six years and who knows what will happen then.

Barcelona is a very important club in the world so you need people who have a certain knowledge about things, who know the club from inside, who know how to deal with the pressure. So we could work together, participate, help other people. Or lead an own candidacy. But nothing has been decided."

Joan Castells is the 57-year old chairman and chief executive of Spanish mutual insurance company Fiatc. In 2000, he was a pre-candidate in the elections for president of Barcelona but he ended up joining the candidacy of then vice-president Joan Gaspart.

After Gaspart won the elections, Castells was appointed as economic vice-president of the club. In December 2002, Castels resigned as first vice-president after Gaspart refused to call early elections. In the 2006 elections, Castells decided not to run and supported pre-candidate Jordi Medina.

Read more:
Former vice-president Castells considering to run
Opposition figure offered place in candidacy
Llaurado confirms that he will run

Could Soriano lead Godall candidacy?

Asked about a possible partnership with former Barcelona economic vice-president Ferran Soriano (picture) ahead of the presidential elections in June (read more here), Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall didn't exclude in an interview with Spanish television channel TVE that Soriano could lead a joint candidacy:

"I've never denied and I will never deny that Ferran Soriano and other colleagues that left with him [in july 2008, after the vote of no confidence] have done an excellent job, especially in the economic area but also regarding the organization of the club and so on.

I think that it would be very positive for the club to recover Ferran Soriano and people of the group that supported him. I have a good personal relationship with Ferran, with Marc [Ingla, former vice-president] and every now and then we talk.

Should I be the number one if we team up? That's an issue that is totally open for discussion. From now until 13 June, there are a lot of days left, although my position is in principle clear. I've presented myself as pre-candidate and I want to be candidate and president."

Read more:
Soriano: "I don't rule out anything"
Godall: "I'm not the puppet of Laporta"
Poll result: What should Ferran Soriano do?

Laporta: "I believe in Sala i Martin"

Asked if Barcelona director Xavier Sala i Martín (picture, centre) could be a candidate to succeed him next year, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has praised the Catalan university professor in economics during an interview with Spanish television channel TVE earlier this week, while he also didn't exclude the option of more than one board candidate:

"He's a man of great and acknowledged qualities. He's a big Barcelona fan. I like him a lot, but he'll hear the decision I will make later. I believe in him because he has been one of the key men by supervising the project and he's a real football fan. It's an honour to have people like him in the board. Whoever it will be, what I sure would like is that my successor would have his intellectual abilities.

I think our model has proven to be a valid one because things have gone very well, but the board doesn't have to agree on one continuity candidate. We will give people the freedom to do what they want. That's our style. Sitting around the table and look for a consensus is not our style. It should be a natural process. We must give people the freedom to decide if they want to run or not. When the elections are called, those who want can present a candidacy."

Read more:
Sala i Martin: "I don't know what my role will be"
Laporta: "We'll talk about our candidate in January"

Board changes not inspired by upcoming elections

Speaking to Spanish television channel TVE, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed that there will be changes in the board (read more here) although he didn't want to elaborate on the issue and said they weren't inspred by next year's presidential elections:

"There will be a redistribution of tasks to be able to govern better. But not all the changes that have been rumoured will actually take place. I don't want to give the details now because I first need to communicate this to my colleagues in the meeting we will have on Friday in Perpinyà. But I can tell you that we won't do anything with an eye on the elections because we need to be focused on governing this club and not on the elections."

Read more:
Board reshuffle coming up next week