Pallacanestro Firenze, no money for salaries: race to the end of the line

The history of Pallacanestro Firenze, which began only in the summer, is approaching the end of the line, but a verdict will have to wait for the first days of 2023. Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon the sole director Michele Forti Parri, the staff and the team met at the PalaCoverciano to understand if there were still the conditions to move forward. Formally, Forti Parri reports, “the meeting has been adjourned to January 1st”. The facts, however, are unequivocal. First of all, the lack of sponsors and economic resources: “The players have asked me if we can honor the commitments made in terms of salaries, and right now the answer is that no, we can’t” admits the director of the company, who had put on a roster capable of immediately aiming for promotion to A2. “I asked to wait for January 2 or 3 to make a definitive decision, but if no one shows up by January 3 to take over the company, we are forced to close”. In addition to salaries, a federal installment will soon have to be paid. The resumption of training is scheduled for January 2, but the coach, Luigi Gresta has already expressed his uncertainty, while a few days ago the sporting director Simone Lusini resigned speaking of “much more serious problems (than the economic ones, ed ) relating to corporate management caused by the total absence of the sole director (Forti Parri, in fact, ed) and by the last decisions he took». Klaudio Ndoja, one of the senators, has meanwhile moved to Caserta, not without internal tensions between the managers, and there are several players who have an outgoing transfer market and who can leave since they haven’t received their salary for more than 60 days. If all the parties involved do not find an agreement to continue, the possible scenarios are withdrawal from the Serie B championship or, if there will not be a sufficient number of players left to appear on the pitch for two games in a row (the tournament for Florence restarts on January 8), the exclusion from the competition would be automatic. In both cases with federal and economic consequences. For sure, for everyone, it will be a difficult and reflective New Year’s Eve.

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