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| Lega Pro: December in brief |
Monday 29 December, 2008
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There was no end of drama in the Lega Pro at the end of 2008. John Foster rounds up events in the third tier, including the sad demise of Pescara
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The dolphin is dead. Pescara have gone into administration, bringing to a conclusion seventy-one years of proud history and fifteen months of abject chaos.
But despite the fat lady’s top notes still ringing in their ears, the shadowy societa’ will have a stay of execution – Pescara will play out the rest of the season. The promotion push looks to be over, though. Few of the players who have so impressed this campaign will want to stay at a club where they’re guaranteed to be paid nothing for the foreseeable future.
Better news for Legnano, another club that had been at risk from the bailiffs. The £400,000 hole in their finances has been filled with public money at the eleventh hour, after the mayor apparently despaired of finding any civic-minded generosity among the burghers of his town.
Pro Patria still top 1-A as we enter the winter break, continuing to defy the pundits who’ve been predicting their demise since August. Three wins from three in December see them four points clear of Spal and five above Cesena and Novara.
Their finances aren’t in good shape though, and they could struggle to keep hold of their best players in January if Serie B sides come looking for a bargain – or if someone decides to give the architect of their success, manager Franco Lerda, a chance at a higher level.
In 1-B Gallipoli lead from Arezzo, who are two points back, with Benevento and Crotone a further two adrift. Gallipoli look well positioned for 2009, with a bright coach, a well-balanced team and an excitable but generous chairman who appears no more crackpot than most third-tier calcio impresarios.
Ambitious, affluent Benevento may supply the strongest challenge to Giannini’s Magic Rooster; they’ve taken winger Gianluca Sansone on loan from Serie A Siena with two of his team-mates poised to follow him.
Elsewhere Ivo Iaconi has run out of time at Cremonese, who have turned once more to ex-boss (and part-time Dolmio puppet) Emiliano Mondonico to get back on the promotion trail. Taranto’s new Coach is Paolo Stringara, whose admission that he loves relegation struggles may explain why he’s on his fourth job in three years.
Finally, the ultras of Hellas Verona have ended 2008 in traditional fashion, with a £9,000 fine for racist abuse of opposition players. You can expect 2009 to begin, continue, and indeed end in similar fashion for the Mastiffs. |
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Lega Pro: November in brief
The traditional pre-Christmas coaching massacre started early in the Lega Pro. John Foster rounds up the casualties in the Third Division. More
Lega Pro: October in brief
The Lega Pro rollercoaster ride continues at full pace with its usual array of unexpected twists and turns. John Foster brings you up to speed. More
Lega Pro: September in brief
The Lega Pro quickly returned to its regular pattern of shock results, impetuous coaching changes and strange points deductions. John Foster reports. More
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