Community spirit saves Helsingborg

'Horrendous' situation
The Allsvenskan club's problems were threatening their participation in the top flight in the coming 2003 season which they still approach with the weight of a €4m debt. "The financial administration at Helsingborg is horrendous," said Lars Johansson, director of the Helsingborg Kommun, or city office. "But we know what the team means to the town of Helsingborg and that's why we're doing this. Of course we do demand a lot from the club in return."

Threat of relegation
In Sweden a new elite licensing system has been set up which stipulates that clubs must have a positive capital of their own, and if not must produce a plan on how to solve their problems during the coming year. Clubs unable to sort out their finances face automatic relegation.

'Must sell players'
"It seems to be the case that Helsingborg are at least €1m in debt, and that means they will have to come up with a plan," said Khennet Tallinger, chairman of the Swedish Football Association's licensing board. "As I see it, this plan must be something major and I believe the only way out is for the club to start selling players."

Paying the price
Helsingborg, who finished fifth in the 2002 campaign, were a major force in Sweden during the 1990s. According to their chairman, Claes Johansson, however, their European adventures during that period have now taken their toll: "Most of problems are based on the fact that when we got into the Champions League we signed long-term and expensive contracts with players. We are now in a different reality, but are still paying players as if we were in the Champions League."