Jazz to continue playing
Thursday, February 27, 2003
Article summary
FC Jazz have been granted a licence for the 2003 season to end speculation over their financial situation.
Article body
FC Jazz were granted a licence for the 2003 Veikkausliiga season on Wednesday, to end speculation that they would be relegated from the Finnish top flight due to financial problems.
Final confirmation
The outcome looked less than certain earlier this month after Jazz were ordered to clear their debts but the Football Association of Finland [SPL] and Jalkapalloliiga [Veikkausliiga] licence management committee confirmed yesterday that the club will be able to compete in
a full 14-team division
Positive turn
Jazz managed to make down-payment plans with their major creditors at the beginning of the week. This, along with positive signs of increasing income, convinced the licence committee of the club's financial well-being.
'A positive decision'
“It was great we were able to make a positive decision," said SPL chairman Pekka Hämäläinen. "Only two days ago it seemed highly improbable that Jazz could meet the licence criteria on the financial side." The decision means that there will be no need to restructure the Veikkausliiga calendar for the new season.
