Crisis in Hammarby – season under threat – Göteborgs-Posten

Hammarby Bandy is in economic crisis and lowers all plays salaries by 20 percent – which means that all players are free to leave. Now the season can be in danger.

– I certainly hope not, says Hammarby’s chairman Lennart Hjalmarsson to GP.

players Hammarby was briefed on the situation, and the decision to cut all play salaries by 20 percent, before the victory of the match at home against Kalix (8-5) on Tuesday.

– I’m proud of the guys. We did not know what reaction we would get, because it makes the course very important for them, but we were met by an understanding of the situation we find ourselves in, say Hammarby’s chairman Lennart Hjalmarsson.

The decision means that plays wages are lowered by 20 percent year on year, and is a consequence of the club is in a precarious financial position.

– If you have not revenue that covers the costs there will be a loss and then you have to do anything. The most important and largest item on the cost plays wages, that is where you can get a quick effect, says Hjalmarsson.

Since the wage reduction entails a breach of contract, the decision that all players now have the right to immediately terminate the contract and leave the club . No such evidence has Hjalmarsson not yet received.

– No, but we have only encountered players in the group so far. They are naturally interested in their future, so it is a top priority that we sit down and talk with each one. If someone has the intention then well it until then, he said.

The club have ended up in the crisis now find themselves in under Hjalmarsson two explanations: too bad sponsorship and public

revenue.

– Both have been difficult to maintain. Normally, the zinc (Zinkensdamm) we had maybe 5-6000 in the audience against the top teams in the past, now maybe it will just over 3000 and against inferior opposition maybe it’ll 2000. We have lived with higher numbers, so we’ll take on that we may not have adjusted enough, says Hjalmarsson.

The news comes now, in the middle of the season and with Hammarby in third place, he explains in part also with the transfer window closes in mid-January.

– And then the players get a chance, even if we do not want anyone leaving. This situation’re definitely not their fault, says Hjalmarsson.

Is there any risk that you can not finish the season?

– We certainly hope not it. I have been asked if I can guarantee that it will not be so, it can never be done. But I think it feels like we should do it.

Are elite license for next season at Risk?

– Do we get little time in which it will we make it out here. Right now we are trying to create us a long-term view of what we do, and it feels pretty good. And I believe that this decision does salaries can help us along the way a little in the short term, now understand our supporters that it is really serious.