Ordinary General Assembly

On Monday, 26 September at 19:30 hours the Athletic Club Ordinary General Assembly was held, with the following agenda:

1. Approvals of the following; Accounts, Annual Report, Balance Sheet and the Board of Directors’ Management of the last Financial Year.
2. Budget approval for the next Financial Year.
3. The Board of Directors; plans and proposals.
4. Member proposals; having presented them in writing and five days before the Assembly date, and on the condition that they have been signed by 10% of the Assembly members or 2% of the Members with the right to vote.
5. Requests and inquiries

Club Secretary Mr. Bustamante started off the Assembly by thanking all those who attended the meeting and, especially to those who were attending for the first time. At 19:30 hours 492 members were present.

Soon afterwards, President Fernando Lamikiz presented the results of his first year as president, not only mentioning the things that went well but the things that didn’t go according to plan also. In addition, he stated that the Board of directors have tried hard right from the start and, appreciating that people can have different opinions, confirmed that this was a good time to enquire, criticize and help. He acknowledged that there have been mistakes made in the past but assured all those present that the Board members just like the club’s employees have worked to the best of their abilities.

Decisions taken:
1. The inferior division teams to wear the red and white colours.
2. The withdrawal of the Darío Urzay shirt, given that Athletic’s viewpoint implies wearing the red-white shirt as well as the contract made with the painter which required the use of his shirt in UEFA matches.
3, Agreement reached with the previous Club Manager Pedro Manzanedo, to whom we are grateful for all his hard work, and in recognition that this Board of directors has a different work philosophy.
4, Suspension of the match against Austria de Vienna, as the game was fundamentally organised in the team’s sporting interests.
5, Akropost: it has been decided that the club’s newspaper will be distributed by this company as a cost-cutting measure, and as soon as all the alternatives have been studied due to the newspaper’s accumulated losses. The alternatives being that the newspaper be distributed at San Mamés or cancelling it altogether. The Secretary of the Board, a small shareholder of this company, has sold his shares in this company. As of October, the newspaper will be replaced by a bi-monthly magazine, which is free of charge for all club members and of no cost to the club.

Osasuna: In the last five years, 21 players of Navarran clubs have gone to Lezama. Club President, Patxi Izco did not take kindly to Athletic’s interest in two Osasuna players who had also shown interest in joining the rojiblanco youth team. Athletic would like to maintain a good relationship with the Osasuna club, but without forgetting that Athletic will always try to have Basque players in their teams.

Real Sociedad: more on the ‘Zubiaurre case’ in the future.

From Gasteiz in Alava: Athletic was offered a great addition to its youth team which was rejected by the red-white club.

We attended the Cieza Supporters’ Clubs Conference which had an amazing atmosphere. The club is very proud of its supporters’ clubs.

An agreement has been reached with Foundation Director Iñigo Ocariz whose contract has been rescinded as a result of the re-structure and, whose salary the club can not afford. Efforts are being made to create a new Foundation; with the aim of showing all members that the money provided by them is of great help to the Athletic football base.

The Athletic Bihotzez Project: the Board of directors took over the project which had already been started, giving the project their support and with Kepa Junkera’s collaboration the project has gone ahead, with a very positive result.

It has been decided that the word “Euskadi” will be placed on the red-white shirt during the UEFA and the Copa competitions for two fundamental reasons: the financial benefit that it entails and the opinion that this word is not considered as being publicity, an opinion which is in accordance with the club’s philosophy.

Luis Fradua’s contract with the club has finished. An agreement has been reached with Andoni Zubizarreta with regards to his contract being rescinded given that the club cannot afford it.

At the moment, only three clubs from Biscay are not affiliated with Athletic: Barakaldo, Sestao and Arenas. Talks are being held with these three clubs and it is hoped an agreement will be reached that will benefit all those concerned.

Ezquerro: Although it may seem untrue, it wasn’t until Andoni Zubizarreta left the club that the Board of directors were able to negotiate with the players. The club offered to renew Ezquerro’s contract but he decided to go to Barcelona, a decision which Fernando Lamikiz thinks was a mistake. The club offered him a farewell press conference, which was criticized by some sectors, given that players like Óscar Vales and César did not have one. The club did offer them this possibility but they were not interested.

Del Horno: The Club received an offer for this player on behalf of Chelsea, and just as the club has always done in this situation, transferred the player from Gallarta. The decision was made based on the fact that it would be beneficial for both club and the player in question.

Valverde: In October, he was told that the club had faith in him but the offer to renew his contract for one year, did not take place until February, which was in accordance with a unanimous Board of directors’ decision. Ernesto Valverde, called the President after the Málaga match and expressed his decision not to renew. Fernando Lamikiz tried to convince him otherwise but the coach decided to leave the club on expiry of his contract.

After Valverde’s decision to leave Athletic, the club negotiated exclusively with José Luis Mendilibar who accepted the offer made in the first meeting with Athletic. The Board of directors have a lot of faith in the coach, and hopes he will lead the rojiblanco first division team for many years to come.

An historical agreement has been reached with regards to team bonuses over four years.

Renewals achieved: Fernando Llorente, Pablo Orbaiz, Andoni Iraola, Javi Casas, Ismael Urzaiz, Iñaki Lafuente, Jon Moya, Joseba Arriaga, Ander Murillo, Luis Prieto and Fran Yeste.

Decision taken in the team’s participation in the Intertoto Copa, with Athletic being eliminated in a penalty shoot-out against Cluj, one of the finalist teams. The Board of directors consider the team’s participation as very positive, as it meant the coach had more match play time and could get to know his players better.

Women’s team: we have a great team, three times Liga champions. The Board of directors would like to thank all those who have collaborated in the past and who have since left the club, and the club would like to express to confidence it has in its new team members.

The club is totally convinced that Carlos Gurpegi is innocent and for that reason is determined to work hard to prove his innocence and to stop once and the harassment that the player is suffering.

Feeling at-ease after the renewals having been finalized, the Board members will concentrate on diverse issues shortly, to highlight a few, a better television contract, the improvement of sporting facilities, the new field and premises for members.

Athletic have presented a DVD showing Fernando Lamikiz at the Professional Football League asking for the non execution of the guarantee deposited by the previous Board of directors, as a means of putting an end to the resentments or misunderstandings that still may exist, and to show that the club’s with for unison.

Then, the 1st Vice-president, José Miguel Lanzagorta presented the Financial Balance for the 2004-05 season.

Later, Eukeni Olabarria presented a report on the Athletic Club Foundation Fundazioa.

1. Approval of the following; Accounts, Annual Report, Balance Sheet and the Board of Directors’ Management of the last Financial Year. Voting results:

Yes: 567
No: 189
Blank: 12
Void: 23

Following the vote, the 1st Vice-president, José Miguel Lanzagorta gave details about the 2005-2006 season budget.

Juan Carlos Ercoreca intervened to takes part to point out that Athletic needs to move with the times without losing its idiosyncrasy. To do this he proposed that the club should attract all forms of possible revenue, just as our competitors do. Applying for the Board of directors’ authorization during the Assembly to look for sponsoring for our club which would include equipment for the premier team, respecting the philosophy and idiosyncrasy of the team.

2. Budget approval for the next Financial Year. Voting results:

Yes 475
No 142
Blank 8
Void 19

3. The Board of Directors; plans and proposals.

Yes 365
No 232
Blank 20
Void 13

Finally, there not being any member proposals the board moved on to point nº5.