Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

S’porean Chan to helm Valencia

SINGAPORE — Valencia’s new executive president Chan Lay Hoon believes the club will come back stronger despite the departure of outgoing chief Amadeo Salvo.

SINGAPORE — Valencia’s new executive president Chan Lay Hoon believes the club will come back stronger despite the departure of outgoing chief Amadeo Salvo.

The Singaporean assumed her new role after Salvo stepped down as executive president citing “personal and family reasons”, including tending to his father who is battling cancer. Chan will also continue as chairperson of Valencia’s board — a role she assumed last December as the first woman to hold the position in the club’s 94-year history.

At least three other senior figures in general sporting manager Francisco Rufete, technical secretary Fabian Ayala and board member Manuel Peris have also resigned from Valencia, which is owned by Singapore billionaire Peter Lim.

In an email interview from Valencia yesterday, Chan told TODAY: “I am proud to take over the role although I am sad to let the current executive president go. I sympathise with his (Salvo’s) predicament of being torn between the club and his family and family business, especially during this difficult time for the family. Our objectives remain focused on growing the club. Valencia is above everyone and as an established club, we will recover in no time.

However, various reports have attributed the exits of Salvo and Rufete to disagreements with the club’s management, but Chan, who is also executive chairman of Thomson Medical in Singapore, told TODAY those claims were not true.

“There are different views on sporting matters,” she said. “This is very common in every football club and this cannot be the reason to drive people away. There is no disagreement with Peter. The technical team joined Valencia because of Amadeo and, therefore, they have also reached an agreement with the club to leave together with Amadeo when he left for personal reasons.”

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Chan added: “Personally, this will be a difficult time for me, but I am sure the club is above everyone, and we will be able to come up stronger every time.”

Lim, 62, had assumed control of Valencia in May last year after purchasing a controlling 70.4 per cent of shares owned by the club’s foundations. He had also pledged €420 million (S$629 million) to clear the club of its debts, finance the construction of a new stadium, and fund the purchase of new players.

Earlier this week, Valencia, who qualified for next season’s Champions League after finishing fourth in La Liga last season, have also appointed former Manchester United defender Phil Neville as assistant to head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday (yesterday morning, Singapore time), Salvo said he informed Chan last month that he wanted to leave the club by June 30 as his father is battling cancer. Chan added Lim was supportive of Salvo’s decision. “It makes no sense to prolong my commitment when I know I can’t see it through,” said Salvo, 48.

“We had to watch as our 94-year-old club declined and was declared bankrupt ... We had to go through a sale process that we tried to undertake with the greatest diligence and transparency possible. If I did it all over again a hundred times, I’d do it exactly the same a hundred times, because we always did what was best for Valencia. We’re in good hands.”

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.