In the next few days Davis and Pagniello will be in the city: they will meet the group, introduce themselves, watch the match and on Monday, as promised, the new company will be formed.
MESSINA – It looks like it could be a significant weekend for ACR Messina, both on and off the field. As was the case a few months ago, there’s anticipation for the imminent arrival of the new foreign owners. The difference compared to the ones Sciotto found is that the Australians have already put up €200,000. After the €50,000 deposit for the irrevocable purchase offer for the judicial auction, confirmation of the €150,000 payment has arrived. This closes that phase and advances the bureaucratic process, allowing Justin Davis and Morris Pagniello of Racing City Group and Global Capital to become owners of the sporting arm of ACR Messina.
The two will be in town in the next few days. They have already held remote discussions with both Di Renzo, coach Romano, and sporting director Martello. No technical changes appear to be in the plans. A press conference will likely be held on Saturday to introduce the clubs and, we assume, explain their objectives. A stadium presence for the match against Castrumfavara on Sunday is almost a given, and on Monday, as previously announced, the new club will be formed.
The company’s next steps
A lot of bureaucratic work will follow once the club is established, requiring a significant outlay. First, Messina’s sporting title will need to be requested from the league; Davis and Pagniello have acquired the sporting arm that had been separated from the club. The debt will need to be reduced, and for that purpose, enforcement of the surety paid by Sciotto will be requested, which should more than halve the over €640,000 in debt. Once the new club is established, the new management positions will need to be clarified, and even in the sporting area, it’s not a given, although it seems likely, that there will be all-round confirmations. Certainly, transfers are expected from the transfer market, which has so far been stalled partly due to financial issues, and they will arrive.
The challenge with Castrumfavara as a springboard
This weekend, Messina could be reborn in every sense, and it’s important to note that the draw in Lamezia Terme against Sambiase left the team on the brink of having their penalty overturned. Not losing on Sunday would mean a draw, a very good omen for the new owners, who arrive in town and will be attending their first match that day. A win, their second consecutive home win, would lift Messina to two points, confirming the sporting miracle that Pippo Romano and his men are producing.
The event of December 1st
Even before arriving in the city and becoming full-fledged owners with the sporting title, Davis and Pagniello launched the initiative that will see the 125th anniversary of the founding of the football club on the shores of the Strait of Messina celebrated at the “Franco Scoglio” stadium on December 1st. It’s expected to be an event of international scope and even nostalgia, as several historic players from the Italian league and beyond have already been officially recognized for the occasion: Stefano Mauri, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Gianluca Zambrotta, Angelo Di Livio, and Christian Abbiati.
