The mayor of the biggest Croatian Adriatic city of Split, Ivo Baldasar, told the press on Thursday that he had decided to refuse an offer of U.S. businessmen for the takeover of the local soccer club "Hajduk" which he and the club's management found to be unsatisfactory.
Baldasar said that the decision to turn down the offer of the potential U.S. investors had been reached after two meetings with the Americans.
"They have proposed to immediately pay 20 million kuna for a 51-percent of the city's holding in Hajduk. After that they wanted to pay in installments in the next five years in order to reach the proposed price of HRK 230 million, but they asked the City of Split to repay the club's loan of HRK 30 million and take over Hajduk's debt of HRK 75 million for the stadium. This would mean that the City of Split would sell Hajduk and remain in the red by HRK 30 million plus HRK 75 million," the mayor said explaining reasons for the refusal.
He admitted that the investors were disappointed but he said he was adamant in his position.
Baldasar said that the soccer club's management and supervisory board supported the city authorities in a bid to preserve the club.
In the meantime, Hajduk has managed to reduce its debt by HRK 15 million, and also downsize the number of those on its payroll.
City authorities are now mulling a possibility of inviting tenders for the purchase of Hajduk shares.
