New Parma cleared for Serie D start
ByFootballItalia
Updated 28/07/2015 at 21:00 GMT
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has given the green light for the formation of a new Parma to join Serie D next season.
A sign which reads as "closed for theft" is seen at the tickets entrance of the Ennio Tardini stadium in Parma, March 6, 2015
Image credit: Reuters
The Ducali were declared bankrupt at the end of last season, and have been forced to begin again as an amateur side, Parma Calcio 1913.
“There’s a lot of responsibility,” technical manager Lorenzo Minotti said at a Press conference.
“There’s an obligation to win at all costs, and to get back into the professional Leagues, so that must always be present in the mind of the new people.”
Minotti also praised captain Alessandro Lucarelli, who has opted to stay with the club while the work their way back up the Leagues.
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Parma's Italian defender Alessandro Lucarelli (L) fights for the ball with Napoli's Spanish forward Jose Maria Callejon during the Italian Serie A football match SSC Napoli vs Parma FC on December 18, 2014 at the San Paolo stadium in Naples
Image credit: AFP
“He’s a rock which we can build the team on. I think he has made a choice to carve his name into the history of Parma.
“In recent years he’s become an adopted Parmigiano, he loves the club, and wants to stay a part of this institution. Whether his role is on the pitch or behind a desk is still to be decided.
“In the meantime, he’s the only player we have, he’s already training at Coverciano, where he’ll also try to get his coaching licence.”
The town’s mayor Federico Pizzarotti also spoke at the event, and urged locals to get behind the new incarnation of Parma.
“I hope the city rallies round, and the Tardini will always be full,” Pizzarotti said.
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ItalyMayor of Parma Federico Pizzarotti
Image credit: Reuters
“We have to put the recent history behind us, and start again from grassroots. Hopefully football can be born again in Parma.”
OUR VIEW
There seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel.
However, this is the second time in just over a decade that Parma have been declared insolvent – having fallen on hard times after the Parmalat scandal in 2004. Engineering entrepreneur Tommaso Ghirardi bought the club in 2007 after three years of administration and ushered in a period of stability.
However, things started to unravel in late 2014 when he sold 66.55% of his stake in holding company Eventi Sportivi. It is a sorry state of affairs that a club who as recently as 2001 won the Coppa Italia will be playing in Serie D next season.
Parma represents a city of just 190,000 inhabitants, and are, despite their recent successes, a relatively small club that have over-achieved.
Many of the 190,000 inhabitants will be hoping that this is the start of a new beginning.
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