Messina‘s new era under Racing City Group continues with concrete steps, as reported in a detailed article on Messinasportiva.it. Attention has focused on the long-awaited first official meeting between the Italian-Australian management and the coaching staff, a crucial meeting to define the sporting strategies of the Serie D team.
President Justin Davis and vice president Morris Pagniello held a productive face-to-face meeting with sporting director Giovanni Martello and coach Pippo Romano. Despite the inevitable difficulties resulting from the heavy burden of a 14-point deficit in the standings, imposed due to delays in salary payments and contributions inherited from previous management, the results on the field have been encouraging: four wins, four draws, and only one loss (against Gela), a result that, without the penalty, would have been worth 16 points and a playoff spot.
The meeting led to a consensus on the need to strengthen the squad, but with targeted moves, avoiding major upheavals. The aim is to include at least one additional alternative in the under-15 squad and a few key senior players, deemed essential to improving the team’s technical level and overall experience, particularly to fill the obvious gaps in attack.
Messina currently has eight junior players on the roster, all concentrated in midfield and attack. The goal is to increase the squad to 24-25 players in total, while awaiting the December transfer window for further evaluation of the lesser-used players.
Among the first imminent additions is Catania left-back Ranieri Ruffino, born in 2004. The player, who has already made 35 Serie D appearances for Ragusa (where he teamed up with captain Garufi), Gioiese, Siracusa, and Troina, has been training with the team for several weeks. As Messinasportiva.it points out, Ruffino has been patiently awaiting the finalization of his transfer, which should now be finalized.
A crucial point addressed during the meeting was Ninni Corda’s role. It was confirmed that he will remain an external consultant available to Racing City Group, averting the risk of potential “pitch invasions” that could have disrupted the work of the current coaching staff. The current management has demonstrated its ability, managing to build a competitive Messina despite the provisional administration ordered by the Court and the judicial liquidation of the former club.
On the corporate front, negotiations for the arrival of former Como and Foggia president Roberto Felleca appear to be incomplete. He is expected to be in Messina for the home match on November 9th against Vibonese, currently fourth in the league.
Meanwhile, the new organizational chart is pending. President Justin Davis, who, as he previously announced at Villa Pulejo during the presentation (photo by Alessandro Denaro), is expected to resign his position at the Catania-based club, Racing Women Catania, to his wife, Amal (photo by Paolo Furrer). Also in the running for a possible management position at ACR Messina is Giovanni Villari, who served as the club’s legal representative and general manager between 2015 and 2016. Enrico Strano, former president of Acireale and current vice president of Racing Women Catania, could also be considered.