CEO Andrea Gazzoli press conference

This afternoon, in the press room of the Alberto Picco Stadium, CEO Andrea Gazzoli held a press conference: “We wanted to hold this press conference to continue the process of transparency and communication that we’ve committed to over the past couple of years, and it felt right to provide a comprehensive update.

First of all, I want to thank the fans, the numbers and growing passion, combined with their support, speak for themselves. I also want to thank our sponsors, who have grown from around fifty to roughly ninety, reflecting increasing interest and confidence in our Club and the path we are following.

I believe the last 20 years of Spezia Calcio’s history have marked an unprecedented journey for both the Club and the city. This progress continues in many areas, including infrastructure development, and it’s only right to make this process clear and accessible to everyone.

Sustainability in football? Talking about sustainability in today’s football world is a bit of a stretch because, without ownership investment, clubs simply cannot operate. We have a serious and solid ownership group, capable of navigating what will likely be the worst financial year in the Club’s history, the 2024/25 season, while keeping an eye on the following season, which will not be easier. The key point is that we have strong ownership that can handle this, though it’s not something to take lightly.

Results help on an emotional level, of course, but when it comes to numbers and objective data, clarity is essential. Recently, I’ve seen people talk about delays in the transfer market or forced sales, but the reality is we brought in twelve players while making only one sale, keeping several key players in the squad.

Criticism is part of the job, we accept that. In football, it’s the pitch that speaks. We have a clear project and vision, and we continue to pursue it with the goal of growth. We take responsibility for results, good or bad, but we have a team, both on and off the field, that is ambitious, prepared, and always focused on working for the Club’s benefit, as we have over the past two years.

Winning matches is our job, but it’s equally important to ensure the narrative is accurate and precise. It’s our responsibility to provide the details necessary for that to happen.

Last year, we went through two demanding ownership transitions, made even more challenging by a particularly high debt level, which we successfully restructured. We’re talking about tens of millions in expenditure, and the exact figures will be reflected in the board’s approval of the financial statements. Our goal is to improve the numbers while maintaining competitiveness, otherwise, we might as well be playing fantasy football.

In sports, there are no “transition years.” There are objectives to achieve. In Serie B, maintaining the league status is always critical, just look at what has happened to many teams in recent years. We know work is still needed on our facilities, including the stadium and, especially, Follo, which has clear potential for improvement. I want to thank all the institutions, starting with Mayor Rita Mazzi, for supporting us on this path.

Serie A ambitions? We have a plan for the 2025/26 season and are already looking ahead. Investing more does not guarantee success; there are many examples of that. Perhaps last year was the only case where major investments led to promotion, but typically in Serie B, that’s not the case. For us, the priority is stability, maintaining league status and then continuing to build the club without making grandiose claims, always with a clear vision and awareness of what we’re doing.

Ownership acquired their shares last April 24, fully aware of the investments needed and always taking responsibility to continue the club’s development, even if the financial numbers are significant.

Our annual operating costs are now double or triple compared to the past and to many other Serie B clubs. Estimating how long it will take to reach our goals is difficult, we know what needs to be done, but we have to focus on the present and plan our steps carefully. The field will always be the ultimate judge, including the impact of the transfer market.

The Plateks have invested tens of millions, and even acknowledging any mistakes, they’ve put over €60 million into Spezia. Our local management keeps ownership fully informed of the club’s path, which is important because they are highly involved in decision-making.

Youth players? A 2006 from our youth sector, called up to the Under-21s and starting, may seem normal, but it’s not. This must be the first step in the youth development path we’re building. It’s not simple, but we’ve worked to build trust with clubs willing to send their young players to Spezia, thanks in part to Melissano’s efforts.

Stillitano? He has global connections and relationships that can certainly help us.

Wages? They have not been reduced, let that be clear, but labor costs naturally remain the highest item in the budget.

Ferdeghini? We first need to understand the relationship between Ferdeghini ownership and our first team before making predictions. Currently, a medium-term lease allows us to operate with confidence.

Stadium plans? The project on Viale Fieschi is underway, with additional aesthetic improvements being finalized to balance the interior and exterior appearance.

Follo? We are advancing structural projects, including improving the pitches. After three years in Serie A, expectations for the training center are higher, and we are addressing that.

Thanks to everyone’s work, including matchday events, we may eventually offset some revenue losses. An extra €200–300k from the stadium reflects more the fans’ passion than bridging major financial gaps.

There is no set timeline to reduce expenses; evaluations for 2025/26 will begin in February. But reducing costs will never come at the expense of competitiveness".