failing topay itsplayers.For thefirst time in its77-year
history,Oviedodropped toSpain’s fourthdivision.
With thedebt-riddenclubnow toilingeveryweek
on lowly
barrizales
(muddypitches), the local council
withdrew itssupportandbegan toback third-division
AsturFC instead,whoevenchanged theirkit to theblue
andwhiteofRealOviedo, andamended theirname to
OviedoAsturFC.Ascommercial andTVrevenuesdriedup,
RealOviedowason thevergeofdisappearing.
“Theclubhadnomoney toevenpay forhotwateror
electricity,”says localMatíasGarcía,whonowruns the
RealOviedoWorldFanClub.Yet, insteadof lyingdown,
supporterssummonedwhat isnownostalgicallycalled the
‘Espíritu2003’ (2003spirit)andpurchased10,759season
tickets. “Money fromseason ticketswasouronly income
then,”explainsGarcía. “People tried toclose theclub,but
fanssimplywouldn’tallow it.”
Underpublicpressure, thecouncilbacktracked.Oviedo
boardmemberssealedacrucialdealwith thegovernment
topayoff thedebt inannual instalmentsand, afteraseries
ofpromotionsandrelegations, theclubachievedakindof
stability, treadingwater inSpain’s third tiersince2009.
Formost sides, thiswouldbecompellingenougha
backstory,butRealOviedo’s taledoesn’tendhere.The
imprudent spendingcontinuedand, inadramatic twist in
2012, theclub’s leadingshareholderand formerpresident,
AlbertoGonzález,disappeared, reportedly toCubaor
Panama, amidchargesof fraud.On1November2012, the
situationwassimple:RealOviedohad17days toraise€1.95m
toavoid liquidationand€4m tosecure theclub’smedium-
term future. “Wewerewaiting forsomekindofmiracle,”
recallsGarcía.
Inadesperate lastact, anewboardofdirectors ledby then
OviedopresidentToniFidalgorequestedan increase inshare
capital toraise funds. Itmeantanyonecouldbuyapieceof the
team, and this iswhere theseedsof salvationweresown.
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