All change again, at FC Torrevieja

With the football season less than two months away, there will no doubt be many other announcements to be made regarding players, management, socios, sponsorship and management over the next few weeks.

Andy Hermida is a man with a mission and in much the same fashion that the team from ‘Mission Impossible’ were given a choice to either chose to walk away or go forward and try to succeed, he has taken a big step forward to rise to the challenge and take on the role as President of FC Torrevieja. His first mission is to try and put the club back into the black, pay of all money owed and ensure that there is a sufficient funding the pay player and management wages for the coming season. He has stated that the club is in a healthier position than at any time last season with debts of just 29,000 euros presently outstanding.

With the football season less than two months away, there will no doubt be many other announcements to be made regarding players, management, socios, sponsorship and management over the next few weeks. One of the more unexpected pieces of news is that of a third Supporters Club for the team, called  ‘FC TorryFans’. Their Press Release states that “the sole aim of the new supporters’ club is ‘to support FC Torrevieja’.  The name chosen for the new supporters club is FC TorryFans (FCTF), to reflect support for this long established and respected local football club.’

It’s no secret that former FC Torrevieja and Torry Army President Eduardo (Eddie) Cagigao and Andy Hermida have not seen eye-to-eye over a number of issues stemming from SAMM Inc’s short lived and disappointing involvement with the club last year.  Thus is may come as no surprise that the PR continues to say that ‘Eduardo (Eddie) Manuel Cagigao Souto, the elected president of the new supporters’ club / peña, only agreed to form this new club after representation from many fellow fans who felt that they lacked representation from the other peñas. 

Eddie has vast experience of this type of association both in Spain and the UK, and is seen as the ideal president to help further the cause of these fans. Eddie Cagigao is quoted as saying “Most big clubs in Spain have many Peñas with varying aims and levels of support.  As a football club, the more supporters’ clubs / peñas it has, the greater level of support it can expect and the more the stature of the club increases.  Although this new supporter’s club / peña is affiliated with FC Torrevieja, it will remain independent and Non-political and all major decisions will be referred to the membership for final approval”.

New FC Torrevieja President Andy Hermida has been subject to lots of criticism over the last few months and did not actively seek his present position. Two weeks ago President Pedro Martinez resigned, the first vice President, the automatic next in line turned down the position and so, as Second Vice President, Andy Hermida was given the role, with two options, in his eyes, to grasp the opportunity or to slowly watch the club’s demise.

In space of just a few weeks, FC Torrevieja has a new President, a Supporters Club, Manager and players. They may not be one of the best teams in their division, they may not even make the playoffs this year but one thing is for sure, life in and around the club never seems to be dull. As the Major of Torrevieja would say in his few words of English “Come on Torry” and good luck to Andy.

Keith Nicol

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