Positive steps for Parma
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Article summary
Troubled AC Parma have named Enrico Bondi as their new president and Luca Baraldi as chief executive.
Article body
Baraldi appointment
Bondi is the administrator drafted in to lead Parmalat, the Italian food company that owns 98.7 per cent of the club and collapsed after a financial scandal in December. Luca Baraldi was appointed as Parma's chief executive at the same meeting. He is joined on the new board by Umberto Tracanella and Guido Angelini, two of Bondi's assistants at Parmalat.
Huge workload
"It's a great pleasure for me to return to the club where I started my career in football," said Baraldi, a long-serving Parma director who left the club for 12 months to help restructure S.S. Lazio's finances. Parma have a €77m debt and Baraldi added: "We have a huge amount of work to do."
UEFA Cup tie
Despite their financial troubles, Parma lie fifth in Serie A and will face Turkish side Gençlerbirligi SK in the UEFA Cup third round on 26 February and 3 March.
