President Niederauer’s statement

This morning, VFC President Duncan Niederauer spoke at the press conferenze in Ca’ Venezia:

“First of all I particularly want to thank our fans, the energy at the Penzo in the last match against Brescia was incredible. As you know I was in the Curva following the game and it was really nice, I am happy with the relationship the club is creating with our people. I can assure you that the energy and strength of our fans has a great impact on the team as well. Their performance and results have also helped me in the off-field activities that I am personally overseeing for the club.

From the corporate point of view, I can tell you that a new group of investors is coming, and it will probably not be a fund but a group of private individuals who intend to invest in the club. Unlike funds that mainly look after numbers, private investors are also driven by an emotional and passionate aspect that I consider very important in the management of a club.

A small clarification on what has emerged in the press: the figures reported regarding my personal wealth are far from reality and if they were true we would not have needed to look for other members and partners that instead I am very happy to welcome here at Venezia. The entry of new investors is essential to make the club grow more and more and, I and the current partners, have had to make financial sacrifices to make this possible. We hope that our creditors will understand our efforts and come to us.

Regarding the bans that FIFA has imposed on us on the soccer market, we are working closely with the clubs involved and are close to resolving the situation. We know that everything will have to be done by the registration for the next championship and we will resolve well in advance of the opening of the next market window.

In one of the last press conferences Coach Vanoli wanted to take up one of the phrases I said in my speech to the team, "Hard work does not necessarily guarantee success but it allows you to earn it." This year the team has worked hard and well, has shown great progress and is now preparing to experience an important season finale with merit. Everyone's hard work has also helped me and the whole club to facilitate the approach and dialogue with new investors, with the new brand ambassador, and it has also had positive repercussions in the construction of Ca' Venezia and all other off-field activities. One final step is missing, the realization of the dream we are all chasing.

A few weeks ago in a newspaper article that I greatly appreciated, my main goal was written very clearly, which is to one day leave this club better than I found it. I love this club and this team, Venice deserves the best and that is what I and all the members have been trying to do since we arrived and will do in the future as well. There have been mistakes along the way but we have done our best to correct them and now we want to think positively about the future. We have a strong team, we are working hard every day to reach our dream and it makes no sense to think otherwise. We have an innovative sports center like Ca' Venezia where we are today, there is the new stadium in the works for which we have already started talks with the municipality to make it functional and innovative for Venice and the whole territory.“