Ruch Chorzow still confirms it wants to be Poland’s first listed football team. But it has to wait for decisions from the Polish Football Association PZPN. The meeting will be held on May 11th.
“I cannot prepare the financing nor make financial forecasts while I would like to present thorough data and plans for the future”, Katarzyna Sobstyl, Ruch CEO explained.
The problem is how the Polish football league will look like in the upcoming season. After numerous bribes have been revealed among first league clubs, decisions need to be made how many teams will be allowed to play this year. There is no consensus concerning the number of teams in the first league. This influences the way money from sponsors are shared. The second vital issue is the contract with chief sponsor – Canal Plus TV broadcasting network. It was supposed to be signed in March, now June is being mentioned.
“The document to be listed on the New Connect is ready but the financial part of it is lacking”, Katarzyna Sobstyl admitted.
She promised that after PZPN meeting is over (providing it is not shifted again), she will inform about the date and details of the issue. Ruch wants to raise at least PLN 5m (EUR 1.5m) to buy new players. Mariusz Klimek, the owner of Reporter clothes company, will keep control over the club. Katarzyna Sobstyl stressed that the debut is a must and will be conducted this year. She admitted that the delay in raising funds is a big difficulty. Within two-three years, Ruch plans to shift to the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
In 2007, the club had over PLN 8m of sales and PLN 72,400 of net income.
(PLN 1 = EUR 0.292)