Godall wants Txiki Begiristian to continue

Asked about the future of Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain (read more here), Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall has repeated in an interview with Spanish news agency EFE that he hope the former player, whose current contract expires at the end of the season will continue at the club:

"The stability during the recent years is the results of the existence of the function of the sports director. We will do all we can for Txiki to continue. We appreciate his work, and now we actually can count on the most valuable Txiki, because he has gained a lot of experience over all those seasons, he knows the agents, the players, the dynamics of the market and its mechanisms."

Read more:
Begiristian could leave for Premier League
Laporta thought about Begiristain as his successor
Txiki Begiristain to quit after the elections

Former penya president to announce candidacy

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Francesc Mañé, a former president of a Barcelona fans' club, could confirm next week that he will take part in the elections for president of FC Barcelona later this year.

Mañé, who already told the paper one year ago about his intentions to run for president, would call a press conferece for Saturday 23 January at a hotel in Barcelona during which he is expected to officially announce his candidacy.

Read more:
Llaurado confirms that he will run
Minguella and Medina behind Rexach candidacy
Guixa confirms presidential candidacy

No deal after new Godall-Ferrer negotiations

The three main Catalan sports papers agree today that new talks over the past week between Barcelona vice-presidents Alfons Godall and Jaume Ferrer didn't lead to any result so far and that an agreement is at this moment very unlikely.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that Godall and Ferrer met on Thursday in the club offices, in the presence of vice-president Joan Boix and chief executive Joan Oliver (read more here). Vice-presidents Boix and Rafael Yuste would on Wednesday have held long talks with Godall trying to convince the first vice-president of taking a more flexible position.

Sources close to Ferrer would have told the paper that the assets vice-president hasn't put any conditions on the table during the last meeting, not even the exit of Oliver or Barcelona treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín, as was suggested by some media.

Godall, who reportedly recently told Barcelona president Joan Laporta that he's not yet totally convinced of wanting to go on with his candidacy given all the difficulties, would on the other hand have repeated that he doesn't want Barcelona directors Perrín, Borràs and Colomer to join his project.

A new meeting between Ferrer and Godall wouldn't be planned at this moment and could only happen if common friends force another gathering. For now, the two vice-presidents would be preparing the elections with an own team and would already have arranged their headquarters.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that both Ferrer and Godall each keep on wanting to head a candidacy in the next elections. Ferrer would only want to join a united board candidacy if he can lead it and has the total freedom to appoint directors. People close to Godall are reported as saying that the first vice-president could in the end not participate in the elections.

Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu claims that a meeting on Thursday only confirmed the differences between the two vice-presidents. Godall wouldn't want to include the three above-mentioned directors in his team, while Ferrer would want Barcelona chief executive Joan Oliver to leave the club.

The two also wouldn't totally agree on the club model for the coming years. While Godall would just want to continue with the current model that gives all the power to the club executives, Ferrer would want to have more control on the decision process.

It has been confirmed to this blog that both Ferrer and Godall will meet separately with delegates of Barcelona's fan clubs this weekend - Ferrer later today and Godall tomorrow - to explain them their plans ahead of the elections. The assets vice-president yesterday also started using his "Jaume Ferrer 2010" account on microblogging service Twitter.

Read more:
Ferrer could lead single board candidacy
Laporta calls on Ferrer and Godall to join forces
Treasurer Sala invites Ferrer to join Godall group

Son "Great Captain" Segarra in board team Guixa

Barcelona presidential candidate Jaume Guixà has announced in a press release earlier this week that Joan Segarra (picture, on the left), the son of former Barcelona player Joan Segarra (picture, on the right), will be a member of his board of directors if he will be elected president later this year (read more here).

Joan Segarra, a 56-year technical architect, explains in the statement why she supports the candidate: "From the day of my birth, I have been linked with the club. My father made me a member of FC Barcelona before even subscribing me to the civil registry and my dream is to continue working at the service of Barça and all the fans until the last day, just like my father did.

Until this date, I've never took a stand on any presidential candidate. However, Jaume Guixà has been able to arouse in myself and all those who are part of his candidacy a huge belief and an immense desire to fight for a Barça that is more close and respectful towards its members.

I believe that Jaume can be the new president of all the fans and that together we can lead a Barça that continues to be 'More than a club' and a worldwide reference, that is capable of transmitting the great values of our democratic society."

Joan Segarra, who passed away in September 2008 at the age of 81, played more than 500 official games for Barcelona between 1949 and 1965 and was the captain of the "Barça of the Five Cups", the team that won five trophies during the 1951-1952 season.

Read more:
Grand-daughter club founder in board team Guixa
Guixa: "The most powerful candidacy is ours"
Guixa gets support son "Great Captain" Segarra

The Quote: Sandro Rosell

"The campaign will start when the elections are called."


Sandro Rosell

read more election quotes here

Minguella and Medina behind Rexach candidacy

Madrid sports tabloid As confirms that former Barcelona player and manager Carles "Charly" Rexach (63) has been offered by a group of Barcelona fans to head a candidacy in the presidential elections later this year (read more here).

The mentioned group would, among others, consist of Jordi Roche (former president of the Catalan football federation – read more here), Jordi Medina (pre-candidate in the elections in 2003 and 2006 – read more here), Josep Maria Minguella (candidate in the elections in 2003 – read more here) and Miquel Llobet, a famous Catalan orthopedic surgeon.

The idea is that Rexach would be the "face" of the candidacy and that he would be assisted by qualified professionals in areas like finances and marketing. The whole project should be finalized by the end of this month, so that the team would be ready in case the elections are called.

Read more:
Medina will again take part in the elections
Rexach confirms offer to run for president
Former president of Catalan federation could run
Will former super-agent run for president?

New president should ratify renewal Guardiola

The two main Catalan sports papers, El Mundo Deportivo and Sport, claim today that Barcelona is finalizing a renewal a offer for Barcelona manager Josep Guardiola whose current contract expires at the end of the season.

An offer elaborated by Barcelona sports director Txiki Begiristain could be approved during today's limited board meeting and would then be proposed to Josep Maria Orobitg, the agent of Guardiola. Next week, Barcelona president Joan Laporta could hold a meeting with the Catalan coach.

El Mundo Deportivo claims that both the manager and the new coach will be given the chance to put an end to the contract after the elections and before the start of the coming season if the collaboration wouldn't work.

Sport on the other hand claims that the renewal offer would just include a clause that says that the next board of directors should ratify a possible new deal with Guardiola.

Read more:
Guardiola not worried about elections
Could Guardiola be a future president?
Guardiola will push candidates to sign Cesc

Llaurado confirms that he will run

Former Barcelona vice-president Jaume Llauradó has confirmed to Catalan television channel TV3 that he will be a candidate in the elections for president of FC Barcelona later this year (read more here). The 65-year old Catalan businessman would officially present his candidacy once the elections are called.

Catalan radio station RAC 1 claims thay Llauradó was not happy that the story was leaked to the press and that he didn't want to make statement to them until the elections are officially called. Since he didn't deny, the radio station sees this as a confirmation that he will take part.

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Llauradó at least wants to improve his score of the 2003 elections when he obtained less than 2 per cent of the votes. Catalan sports paper Sport reports that Llauradó has already his headquarters, a campaign team and the financial means in place.

Catalan sports journalist Alex Santos meanwhile writes on his blog that people close to Llauradó see the news reports more as a poll to see how the Barcelona voters would react to a possible new candidacy of the former Barcelona director.

Read more:
Former vice-president Llaurado will run for president
Who will be the next president of FC Barcelona?
Will Llaurado run for the fourth time?

The Pundit: Alex Santos on Ferran Soriano

« Soriano is the most clever guy in the class, or one of the most clever ones. There should be no doubt about that. Very often, when we are going to start thinking, he has already finished. »

Alex Santos

check more pundit talk

Godall and Ferrer meeting face-to-face

Catalan radio station Catalunya Ràdio claims that Barcelona vice-presidents Alfons Godall and Jaume Ferrer are at this moment holding a meeting in Barcelona. The meeting would have started at 7 pm local time.

First vice-president Godall would have invited assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer to talk about the situation ahead of the presidential elections later this year and to try to form one united board candidacy. This is believed to be one of the last chances to find an agreement.

Three weeks ago, the two possible candidates would already have held a similar meeting but Ferrer would then have rejected the offer of Godall to join his group. Tomorrow will there will be a limited board meeting during or after which the elections will be discussed.

Read more:
Laporta calls on Ferrer and Godall to join forces
Ferrer could lead single board candidacy

Ferrer could lead single board candidacy

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer could become the board candidate in the upcoming elections. A decisive meeting is reportedly coming up this week after Barcelona president Joan Laporta met with Ferrer on Tuesday morning in Barcelona.

In the presence of Barcelona sports vice-president Rafael Yuste, Laporta and Ferrer would during that last meeting, which is described as "positive", have agreed on the fact that there should be one single board candidacy.

It's not yet clear who will assist at the upcoming decisive meeting - one version says all directors minus Laporta will assist, another one says only the vice-presidents will - but the goal is to make a final decision on who will be the board candidate in the elections. The name of the candidate would then be officially announced at the board meeting on 29 January.

During the Tuesday meeting, Ferrer would have told Laporta that he doesn't plan to change his mind on running for president and with Ferrer getting more and more support inside and outside the board, he would at this moment seem to be the most likely leader of the united board candidacy.

Three board members who were believed to support Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall would now have doubts, while vice-presidents Rafael Yuste and Joan Boix would have informed Godall on Tuesday that, given the latest events, they might support Ferrer.

All this means that Godall could lose his majority within the board of directors. It meanwhile wouldn't be clear if Godall will take part in the elections if Ferrer is appointed as the board's presidential candidate.

Read more:
Laporta calls on Ferrer and Godall to join forces
Board still trying for united candidacy
Treasurer Sala invites Ferrer to join Godall group

Rooney could become electoral transfer target

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney (24) could become a transfer target for candidates in the elections for president of Barcelona after news reports in England saying that the player might be for sale.

British tabloid The Sun reported earlier this week that Manchester United has serious debt problems which could force the English Premier League champions to sell Rooney. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid would be interested in the English striker and are said to be preparing bids of around 78,5 million euros.

British tabloid The Daily Express confirms today that Manchester United is urgently trying to sort out their financial problems to avoid selling Rooney. Unless the club can reschedule their loans to reduce interest payments, they would have to let go players and only Rooney could raise the money needed without destabilizing the whole squad.

Read more:
Transfer battle between board and Rosell
Guardiola will push candidates to sign Cesc
Ribery on wish list Rosell

The Pundit: Dagoberto Escorcia on style Rosell

« During his last years in the shadow, Rosell has learned that a style of too much strength and bravery is what many FC Barcelona supporters reject nowadays. »

Dagoberto Escorcia,
La Vanguardia

check more pundit talk

Poll result: When should the elections be held?

When would you like the elections to be held?

March 48%
April 14%
June 38%

total votes: 3910
start date poll: 7 january 2010
poll method: internet, free participation
source: el mundo deportivo

check more election poll results here

Treasurer Sala invites Ferrer to join Godall group

Asked about the upcoming presidential elections during an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1, Barcelona treasurer Xavier Sala i Martín has invited Barcelona vice-president Jaume Ferrer to join the group of first vice-president Alfons Godall, who is supported by Sala i Martín:

"The candidacy I will be part of will guarantee the continuation of the current success model. We already decided who will lead that candidacy but we don't yet know when we'll make that decision public.

I've heard that a member of the board, Jaume Ferrer, has announced that he would like to run for president. The majority of the board isn't in favour of this option, they are supporting our group.

We want to be a unifying project so we are waiting with open arms. We hope that Jaume and his small group will join us and that he stops his adventure."

Read more:
Sala: "Rosell was always on the wrong side"
Laporta calls on Ferrer and Godall to join forces
Boix could be the consensus board candidate

Medina will again take part in the elections

Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu claims that 'Un Crit Valent', an FC Barcelona platform led by Jordi Medina, has decided to take part in this year's elections for president of FC Barcelona.

Medina is a 45-year old Catalan lawyer who was a pre-candidate in the 2003 and 2006 elections but failed twice to collect enough signatures of club members.

After analysing the situation and having been contacted by other groups who have the intention to participate in the elections, 'Un Crit Valent' thinks the best option is to join forces with others and present one common project.

At this moment, negotiations would be ongoing to finialize the program and to decide who will be the main people in the candidacy. It wouldn't be excluded that they will try to attract a candidate who is at this moment not yet linked with any of the groups involved.

Although 'Un Crit Valent' is reported to keep the option open to take part in the elections on their own, the talks would be well-advanced and there wouldn't be any more major obstacles that could block a deal. Nothing has yet been made public because the people involved would think this is not yet the right time to come out.

Catalan radio station RAC 1 claims that Jordi Medina could team up with two candidates in the 2003 elections: former player's agent Josep Maria Minguella and agricultural businessman Jordi Majó.

A source of the club's entourage consulted by this blog has said that a deal between Medina and Majó is unlikely after the latter gave his support to Jaume Guixà and not to Medina in the 2006 elections.

Read more:
Minguella still didn't decide on candidacy
Who will be the next president of FC Barcelona?
Rexach confirms offer to run for president

Weekly Round-Up (7): The magic stick

Every week an overview of the posts from this blog is published on Barcelona news site totalBarca.


After Friday's limited board meeting, Barcelona chief executive Joan Oliver said that the board is still trying to form one candidacy ahead of the upcoming presidential elections: "The will exists and it's an issue we're working on." The announcement came as a surprise after statements earlier in the week.

Barcelona first vice-president Alfons Godall had repeated that he only wants to negotiate without conditions: "A board cannot be a 'puzzle', you must have a united group that backs the president so he has enough room to maneuver in difficult times. A president cannot be the prisoner of his own board, he needs freedom to lead".

Barcelona institutional vice-president Albert Perrín, who supports his discreet colleague Jaume Ferrer, hit back quickly: "Godall is sectarian, he only wants to deal with certain people and we don't think that's logical".

>>> read the complete weekly round-up here

The Pundit: Alex Santos on intentions Ferrer

« The actions of Ferrer arouse some suspicions and those all converge at one common point: he stepped on the pre-election scene in the same way as when Gabriel Masfurroll came forward in 2000 with the clear intention of joining a more important candidate (and ended up in the candidacy of Joan Gaspart). »

Alex Santos

check more pundit talk

Boix could be the consensus board candidate

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Barcelona economic vice-president Joan Boix could take part in the presidential elections later this year.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta could reportedly support the option of Boix if first vice-president Alfons Godall and assets vice-president Jaume Ferrer wouldn't be able to find a deal on forming one united board list.

Boix, who didn't yet take a stand in the discussion between his colleagues Godall and Ferrer, could become the consensus candidate to avoid a division in the Barcelona board that could lead to two current directors running for president.

Read more:
Boix: "Many directors qualified to be president"
Directors considering to leave the club
The five vice-presidents of Godall

Laporta calls on Ferrer and Godall to join forces

Asked about the upcoming elections, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has told journalists that he still thinks Barcelona vice-presidents Alfons Godall and Jaume Ferrer should form one candidacy:

"I hope the next president will be someone who continues with this model that makes us live the best moment in history. Jaume Ferrer has said he will run and Alfons Godall might also take part, I don't know.

In my opinion the two defend the same model and so it would be better that they join forces, which is still an option. The idea of both is to improve the current project, so I think it's possible to have one single candidacy that defends the current successful model. My role in the whole process will be to keep on governing the club and to organize exemplary elections."

Read more:
Godall: "The decision has been made"
Board still trying for united candidacy
Perrin: "Nobody is touched by the magic stick"

Former vice-president Llaurado will run for president

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that Jaume Llauradó will take part in the elections for president of FC Barcelona later this year. The 65-year old Catalan businessman would make an official announcemnt in the coming days.

Jaume Llauradó was a pre-candidate in the elections of 1997 and 2000, when he ended up joining the candidacy of the later president Joan Gaspart, in whose board Llauradó was a vice-president from 2000 until he resigned after one year because he didn't agree with the way the club was governed.

In 2003, he was a presidential candidate but finished 6th and last in the elections won by Joan Laporta. He obtained 987 votes (1,91%), which was considerably lower than the number of signatures he had been able to collect (read more here). Llauradó is also the president of FC Barcelona think tank Fòrum Samitier.

Read more:
Will Llaurado run for the fourth time?
Will former super-agent run for president?
Bassat will not run a third time

Cartoon 22: Laporta wants to hold the strings

* They will try to form one single continuity candidacy *

Laporta:
That way, I won't mess up the strings.


(click the cartoon to enlarge)


by kap

source:
el mundo deportivo

check more election cartoons here

Grand-daughter club founder in board team Guixa

Barcelona presidential candidate Jaume Guixà has announced in a press release today that Emma Gamper, the grand-daughter of Barcelona founder Hans (Joan) Gamper, will be a member of his board of directors if he will be elected president later this year:

"I am very happy that Emma joins our candidacy. For every Barcelona fan it means a lot to be able to count on the legacy of Joan Gamper in their project, and I have this privilege."

Emma Gamper, a 59-year old artist who wrote a biography on her grandfather two years ago, explains in the statement why she supports the candidate: "I am convinced that Jaume Guixà will be the next president of FC Barcelona and that he will bring back the values that were promoted by my granddad, Joan Gamper, when he founded Barça.

The main qualities of Jaume Guixà are his honesty, transparency and professional skills. Over the last five years he silently prepared a great project that deserves all our trust. I launch an appeal to all club members who really love FC Barcelona to give us their support and to join the Guixà movement."

Read more:
Guixa gets support grand-daughter club founder
Former vice-president part of board team Guixa
Guixa gets support son "Great Captain" Segarra

No decision yet on election date

Speaking at a press conference, Barcelona chief executive Joan Oliver has said that the board of the club didn't yet make a decision on the date of the presidential elections:

"The board of directors has the power to decide on the date, that should be between 15 March and 15 June (read more here). It's still far away and there hasn't yet been a debate on the issue.

As is logical, the club is nevertheless already preparing the elections process on all levels - social, judicial, logistics, organizational – so that everything will be ready, of course taking into account the different possibilities."

Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that the weekend of 24 and 25 April, when Barcelona plays at home against Xerez, is another possible election date. On Sunday 25 April, several Catalan towns will hold a non-binding referendum on the self-determination of Catalonia.

Catalan sports weekly Gol reports that the majority of the board wants to bring the date of the elections forward, while Barcelona president Joan Laporta would only want to hold early elections if the Catalan parliamentary elections, in which Laporta could take part and which are planned for the second half of this year, would also be organized earlier than expected.

Catalan sports paper Sport claims that the matter will be discussed at the next meeting of the board of directors in the Catalan city Vic on Friday 29 January and that a final decision on the exact date could be made that day.

Read more:
Elections will be held in April or May
Pre-candidates need to collect signatures
When will the elections be held?

Which role could Cruyff play in the elections?

Asked if former Barcelona player and manager Johan Cruyff could actively take part in the upcoming presidential elections, Barcelona institutional vice-president Albert Perrín has said in an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena Cope that this won't happen:

"He will not intervene. I'm totally sure he won't be part of the team of anyone, as sports vice-president or whatever.

I can guarantee you that. At the very most, and I think can say this, he might make a statement against someone the last day. Against Rosell? I don't know."

Read more:
Laporta wanted to replace Rosell by Cruyff
Rexach confirms offer to run for president
Former president Nunez to run with support Cruyff

The Pundit: Dagoberto Escorcia on quality Rosell

« During the pre-campaign, Sandro Rosell is showing that he has an important quality, basic for everyone, which is none other than patience. »

Dagoberto Escorcia,
La Vanguardia

check more pundit talk

Most read of the week

these were the three most read blog posts of the past week:


1.
Godall: "The objective is a one billion budget"

2.
Ribery on wish list Rosell

3.
Presidential candidates know transfer price Cesc

Rosell and Ferrer want fitness entrepreneur

Asked about his rumoured involvement in the upcoming presidential elections, Ramón Canela (picture, second from the right), chief executive of the Catalan chain of fitness centres DiR has said in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1 that he received an offer of two presidential candidates to be part of their team:

"First, it's not true that I will run for president. That's not possible because I couldn't combine it with my business activities. But it's a fact that two candidates, Sandro Rosell and Jaume Ferrer, have asked me to join them. I think I can add things in terms of management but he who runs for president will of course have the final say.

I'm a friend of both Rosell and Ferrer, and also of Alfons Godall. If I can help and if they're interested... There's a lot of movement at this moment. I also think Ferran Soriano will come out at some point and join another candidacy. He has great economic skills, something other projects lack.

If I take part that would be as a possible director but first I want to talk about the content of the project. I think I can add a lot because in the end I have thirty years of experience in the world of sports. In a different area of course but I can bring a lot to the table when it comes down to management."

Read more:
Candidates compete for future board members
Could Ferrer team up with Rosell?
The Rosell Project - Part 4: The Board (2)

The Pundit: Pep Lloveras on chances Sala i Martin

« Sala i Martín has been stopped for now, but he has the most powerful profile and he has Laporta on his side, so it's not crazy to think that a last-minute turn-around is still possible depending on the events. »

Pep Lloveras,
Avui

check more pundit talk

Perrin: "Nobody is touched by the magic stick"

Speaking to Catalan radio station RAC 1, Barcelona institutional vice-president Albert Perrín (picture, on the right) has repeated that it will be very difficult to form one united board candidacy, although he said that this is still his wish:

"I would like to have one candidacy and I will do anything I can to have a common project. But of course, if one of the parties doesn't want that, then there wouldn't be nothing more to say. I understand that for a lot of people it doesn't seem logical not to have one list but I can't do much about it.

Jaume Ferrer has never asked for anything, he was open to negotiate. But Alfons Godall sees things differently. If he wants to lead and puts his conditions on the table, I have to respect that but maybe you should ask it to him why he's creating all those obstacles.

I only read statements from Alfons Godall in which he claims a leadership that nobody handed to him. All vice-presidents and directors, being it Jaume Ferrer or Alfons Godall or Joan Boix or myself or whoever, have the right to speak out. Nobody has been touched by the magic stick. Everybody can have aspirations but he's already putting forward his conditions and that's where the problems start.

I think that one candidacy is very difficult but I promise I will do all that is possible to form one single candidacy. We will try to convince Godall that we're a group and that we should stay united. In any case, we're going to try to separate the management of the club and the elections."

Read more:
Perrin: "Godall doesn't want me in his candidacy"
Ferrer confirms that he will run for president
Albert Perrin appointed as new vice-president