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| Cairo promises another 10 years |
Monday 16 February, 2009 |
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Torino President Urbano Cairo has moved to reassure fans he has no intention of selling the club and will be its owner for another 10 years.
Late last week, Raffaele Ciuccariello, a Pugliese businessman, was reportedly ready to offer £40m for the Granata.
“The politics of small steps rewards all in the end,” Cairo replied when asked about his future with the club.
“I don't want to speak anymore about the takeover. It's over. If Ciuccariello's lawyers were to ask for another appointment, I would say 'no' to them.”
Cairo, who bought Torino in June 2005, then looked back at his first 100 games in charge of the relegation threatened Granata.
“They have been intense challenges, always heart throbbing and never boring,” Cairo admitted, referring to his first year, in which Torino won promotion, and the last two in which they have fought for survival.
“The most beautiful year was that of the centenary,” he explained. “But I would also add that run of three straight victories in 2006.
“There is also the period when we went eight games unbeaten under Walter Novellino during last season.”
Despite a number of protests against his presidency, Cairo insists his first 100 games at the helm of Torino have been satisfying.
“I have learnt many important things,” he concluded. “Errors and good things unite and all make up the experience.
“I have brought about structural improvements and completed the organic with the addition of Rino Foschi as director of sport and now we can better exploit the technical values available to us.”
Cairo then went on to discuss the current form of his Torino team. The Granata drew at Lazio on Sunday and are third from bottom, two points from safety.
“In a championship where a victory equals three points, a draw is worth little. But you only realise that when you don't win and then every point comes under consideration.”
Torino are unbeaten in their last five games, but they have not won since December 21 when they beat Napoli 1-0. They host Udinese next weekend.
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