Palermo’s players claim they have not been paid as Sampdoria President Massimo Ferrero admits he is keeping an eye on the situation.
Palermo look like starting again in Serie D with new owners after they failed to register in time for the second tier next season and claimed to have been defrauded by fake brokers of a Bulgarian insurance company.
However, the squad made it clear at a Press conference on Thursday that they had no sympathy for Arkus Network, which only bought the embattled club a month ago.
“From today, us players will use every appropriate means to protect ourselves and receive what’s in our rights, ready to keep fighting an ethical battle too so that anyone who enters the world of football can no longer play with the lives of so many families.
“We’ll ensure that Arkus Network and its related parties no longer have the chance to do again what they’re doing to us, whether they are sportsmen or ordinary people.
“Following this regrettable and disheartening sequence of events, during which an entire city was deceived, wounding a splendid fan base and the passion that the people of Palermo have for their team, us Palermo players want to show our solidarity to all the employees who gave their souls to their club and now find themselves out of a job, from the administrative employees and kit men to the groundsmen and every person who allowed Palermo to exist.
“Today, not even us players have been recognised as having the right to work. The payment of our salaries has been skipped and the bank transfers have never arrived; all accompanied by Press conferences where documents were exhibited but then not reflected as facts, during a time when those who created this situation have lost their credibility.
“It’s been two months of unfulfilled promises and objectives not being met.”
Ferrero, meanwhile, has been put forward as an unlikely saviour of the Rosanero…
“I really love the city of Palermo, I’m very attached to it,” he told reporters.
“I’ve shot my best films here. Many of my productions have been shot in this city and I’d like to come back.
“Now I’m awaiting further developments.”
