From: fischer@iesd.auc.dk (Lars Peter Fischer)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Denmark: Br/ondby heads for bankruptcy?
Date: 7 Oct 92 03:59:40 GMT
Organization: Mathematics and Computer Science, Aalborg University


In a dramatic move former Danish international and Br/ondby player Per
Frimann wednesday asked the court to declare the professional football
arm of Br/ondby IF bankrupt. It is the impression of Frimann that
Br/ondby is unable to pay it's debt to him of $135.000 and therefore
is technically insolvent.

Br/ondby has been having serious economic troubles since the late fall
of 91. The Br/ondby board has been making some "interesting" economic
moves in the period 88-91, practically running the club as a part
football team, part economic speculation company. This has among other
things involved buying the majority of the shares in a bank. It appears
that Br/ondby had calculated on reaching the group phase of EC1 last
year, and when this didn't happen, the economy went into a slide that
in the spring looked more like a head-first crash.

The current situation with Frimann is bizarre. Frimann was badly
injured in the preparations for WC86 (during a "friendly" game). After
some struggles and attempted comebacks he was declared
sports-disabled. Unfortunately his insurance did not cover
international games and his situation looked bad. A testimonial game
was arranged last summer between the WC86 team and Br/ondby, the first
such game in Denmark, with Br/ondby managing the show.

We now learn that Frimann never received any money. Br/ondby
acknowledges that Frimann has a claim of $135.000 but claims that
certain details related to tax are still unclear and that they are
otherwise prepared to pay. Frimann, on the other hand, demands to be
paid now, saying that all the people that saw the game and those that
worked for free will feel cheated if he does not demand to be paid.

In a related move, Br/ondby has stopped paying their former coach
Morten Olsen. Br/ondby and Olsen signed 3-year contract in february,
but Br/ondby went on to fire Olsen in the spring as results was not as
expected. Nevertheless, Olsen was entitled to received his pay until
(a) he signed for another team or (b) the end of the 3-year period.
Br/ondby now claims that Olsen has turned down an offer from 1.FC
K"oln and hence could have a job it he wanted to. Morten Olsen, former
Danish international and 102-game record holder, denies any contact to
K"oln. Olsen finished his active career playing for K"oln.

What can I say about all this. It has been evident for some time that
Br/ondby is in deep troubles. The stock exchange turned down
Br/ondby's economic report in the spring, and since then the situation
has been turbulent. Still, I sure hope that this new situation will be
settled. After a bad spring Br/ondby has been making good progress on
the football fields lately and they are still one of the best and most
important Danish teams. A crash in Br/ondby could have shattering
effects on Danish club football. Br/ondby has been having strong
influence on Danish football in the past 10 years, and without their
efforts and results in Europe the increased level in the league would
not have been. Danish club football has been on a rise in recent
years, and a crash for Br/ondby could be a fatal setback.

Frimann is currently employed by the European Commission, department of
professional sports, and is working with the EC view of the European
football transfer system. To him, Br/ondby might only be a warm-up
case.

/Lars
--
Lars Fischer, fischer@iesd.auc.dk | It takes an uncommon mind to think of
CS Dept., Aalborg Univ., DENMARK. | these things.  -- Calvin