Serra Ferrer: ‘We are not ashamed’

Real Mallorca vice-president Llorenç Serra Ferrer sent a message to all those who criticise the club owners who have not injected capital on Spanish chat show Fora de Joc. “No one wanted to buy the club in the last two years. We’ve found a ruined Mallorca with a debt of £63.6 million and a deficit last season of £13.5 million. Until we stop the haemorrhaging of money it is impossible to survive.”

Serra Ferrer defended his management and criticise the management teams of the past in saying “having an opening deficit is irresponsible as in this case. If Mallorca is able to generate £25.5 million, the expenditure should be no more. Mallorca has had the habit of going bust. The elation of two good league positions do not compensate for the ruin that is Real Mallorca.” He emphasised the style of management his team have taken out and tried to spell out the difficulty that faces football finances that exists at the moment in the game.

“Football is touched by death. We must be responsible, rigorous, serious and unashamed. We had to cut £16.9 million worth of players from the team. Aduriz, Borja Valero, Mattioni, Mario Suarez. All these people who say they can afford this money, where is the money?”

He then gave a defying message of optimism for the coming season. “As of 30th June, we will be debt free. There is a risk, but future success will rely on us generating our own youth players. If we can stay in the first division, this is the road to recovery.”

He also ended any running feud with Athletic Bilbao by saying “we have to apologise and forgive. For me, Athletic is a historic team.”