FOGGIA – Clouds on the horizon for Foggia, the future of the Rossoneri club is increasingly a puzzle and at this point even the registration for the next Serie C championship is at risk, if there isn’t a turning point soon that allows the club to move on in new hands and the relaunch of programs and ambitions. The nightmare that hovers over the city is of falling back into amateur football.
Yesterday the negotiations with the American private equity fund which, assisted by the consultancy firm MergersCorp, had shown interest in taking over the Foggia shares came to a standstill and the president Nicola Canonico made official his desire to get rid of the Rossoneri club, declaring himself also available to put the shares back into the hands of the mayor of Foggia, Maria Aida Episcopo, free of charge.
«After three years of commitment and dedication, the time has come to conclude this experience – states the Rossoneri president -. I have faced significant challenges and fought to preserve the integrity of the club, despite adversity. Unfortunately, over the course of these years, I have had to face not only sporting difficulties, but also a series of intimidations and personal insults that have compromised the climate around the club. I have always believed in the potential of Calcio Foggia 1920 and have worked to defend and promote the interests of the club and its community of fans. However, the toxic climate and the threats I faced made it impossible to continue dedicating my commitment and passion to Calcio Foggia 1920.”
A disengagement that opens up worrying prospects for the future of the Foggia association. «My company shares, belonging to CN Sport, will be made available free of charge in the hands of the mayor – continues Canonico – with the exception of that group of entrepreneurs who made an offer to Calcio Foggia 1920 last year. These entrepreneurs (the reference is to Antonio Salandra and Matteo La Torre, ed.) have offered a proposal that has damaged my intelligence and therefore they will not be included in this offer. I have also decided to take legal action against those who have offended and threatened me. The complaints do not only concern the ongoing investigation conducted by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Bari, but are mainly aimed at defending my dignity and ensuring that these unacceptable behaviors do not go unpunished.”
The Municipality of Foggia intervened on the topic yesterday evening, with a note that followed that of the Rossoneri patron. «President Canonico’s decision comes close to the deadline for registration for the next Lega Pro championship (June 4th) and which puts the future of the club and the team at a very delicate crossroads – highlights the municipal administration – . A decision that requires an immediate in-depth study at Palazzo di Città, which we have already requested, with President Canonico, and full awareness of the current economic-financial-debt situation of Calcio Foggia 1920, in order to allow this administration to start ad horas a technical table and identify entrepreneurs who can take over from the outgoing president. From this moment on, our commitment is to the future of Calcio Foggia 1920.”
