Floundering Real Sociedad braced for shakeups

15 November 2007

Madrid – The third week of June in 2007, when Real Sociedad Soccer Club was sent down to the second division after 40 consecutive years of first-division ‘Liga’ competition, could have been the worst week ever for San Sebastián’s leading team.

However, this second week of November has been giving that June week a run for its money. The club is on dubious footing in the second division, where it has lost its last five games, and is in 13th place, only five points from relegation to the third division.

Real’s Welsh coach Chris Coleman is also walking on thin ice, after having lied to the club about why he was late to a press conference last week. Coleman claimed a broken home appliance had caused a water leak, when in fact he had been out partying until late the night before.

These issues form the backdrop to rumors that a major administrative shakeup is in the works. On November 30, Real Sociedad shareholders will convene for the most important meeting in club history.

A Chinese company has expressed its desire to buy the club, and the possibility that certain board members will resign or be forced out – including club president María de la Peña, who oversaw Coleman’s hiring this summer – is subject to speculation.

Coleman, who is still awaiting the board’s course of action about the lying incident, has recently stated that he would resign from his position if board members were forced out.

While the coach tries to prepare Real’s Saturday game against Nàstic de Tarragona, it would seem that no one’s future at the club safe.

Subject: Spanish news