Pedro Martinez, president of FC Torrevieja, announced last week that the players and staff of the local football club would be paid but not quite so quickly as some people had been led to believe. He said that the balance of October’s wages and November’s were to be paid last week, that December’s would be paid on February the 12th, January’s 2010 by the following Friday the 19th of February and by the end of the month, on February the 26th , February’s amounts would be settled.
The news immediately raised some concerns as to whether the original deal with SAMM Inc was on, off, or what the status was. As has typified everything to do with the recent events at the football club, a lack of official statements and explanations soon led to the rumour mill working overtime. The Torry Army forum quickly had a somewhat acrimonious thread developing which is still smouldering on. Critics were claiming that SAMM inc had broken their promises to pay everything up to date by February the 5th. Not having done so they had reneged on their promise and therefore presumably by implication were not to be trusted.
Telephone calls to both Graham Knight and Andrés Herrmida, directors of FC Torrevieja, were made for some clarification from the club’s perspective. They both told the CoastRider that the information regarding the accounts, players’ contracts and payments owing to them was more complex than they had been led to believe and the amount outstanding was greater than they had been told. Because of that there were difficulties in understanding some of the figures and more importantly getting the accountants who would release the money to understand them. This has slowed the process up and there were still issues to resolve surrounding the December debts and payments. Andrés Hermida said that there had been a meeting with the players and this had been explained to them, “and they were happy with the situation.”

“It wasn’t that they did not have the money,” he went on to say, “It was that they were unhappy with not fully knowing what they had to pay.”
He also said that SAMM Inc would be releasing a statement soon about the due diligence process but as we went to press this had not been issued.
Meanwhile FC Torrevieja is looking for views and opinions from the fans.
Here is the press release issued from the Alex Trelinski, responsible for Media Relations at the club: -
TORRY FANS FIND THEIR VOICE
FC Torrevieja are giving their supporters a chance to voice their opinion on what positive changes they would like to see implemented at the Club.
Fans are requested to come up with their thoughts and positive suggestions for the future by sending an E-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The messages will go straight to Peter Fulford, CEO of SAMM Inc, who have recently bought the club, and who want to hear the views of all supporters in the area.
“I’m keen to take the pulse of what the fans want, and what ideas they have to take FC Torrevieja forward”, says Fulford, “….and I’ll try to answer some of their points directly, though I cannot guarantee a reply to everybody as there is so much work to be done on and off the field.
Myself and the committee are extremely committed to FC Torrevieja and welcome the thoughts and positive feedback from our valued fan base and community” “There is a strong bedrock of Spanish and British support here, but I do want to hear from people who have not been recently and what we can do to encourage them to cheer on their local side.”