AEK heads to the unknown
The situation at AEK soccer club is verging on the explosive, with its owners and its prospective buyer turning on one another, its general meeting being postponed yet again yesterday and a number of hardcore fans threatening action unless a solution is found for the Athens team’s future. In the early hours of Monday, Greek-American businessman Bob Kozonis gave an interview to a website suggesting that he has the money to buy AEK, as its shareholders had originally wanted, and that he is also prepared to spend 35 million euros to cover the club’s debts, while any further outstanding debts that may come to light in the future would be covered by the current owners. The Chicago-based construction company owner added that he will build a new stadium for AEK at Nea Philadelphia, the club’s heartland, which would emulate Munich’s Allianz Arena «and will still be a good ground after 50 or 100 years,» he told Sport24 website. On Tuesday AEK’s current shareholders, who recently said they would no longer negotiate with Kozonis, issued a statement threatening the Greek-American with legal action and insisting he is not a solvent and reliable businessman. Yesterday, the shareholders announced that the eagerly anticipated general meeting of the club was postponed due to the lack of a quorum, which was greeted with disbelief and anger by holders of smaller stakes, including the amateur division of the club. A few dozen fans also gathered outside the office of shareholder Petros Pappas and expressed their anger. Last night, main shareholder Nikos Notias announced he is working on a plan for AEK’s future and will make his final decisions known by January 20. The question is whether AEK can wait until then.
