The serious financial situation in the club appears in a longer post on the club’s own website.
There, managing director Henning Svendsen explains the situation Sparta is in.
He says that significant measures have already been taken to remedy the weak economy. Further measures were taken on Friday.
– The next step is that we have laid off all employees in the administration to varying degrees, as well as certain tasks in sports. It is not desirable, but necessary in the current situation. Those affected were laid off after the end of the working day on 22 November, writes Svendsen.
– We hope to avoid taking more cuts, but if we see that the market income is still not forthcoming, then the next step will be to release players, he elaborates.
1.9 million missing
According to the Sparta summit, the club notices that there is less money among both people and partners. This results in lower ticket sales than before as well as problems in landing sponsorship deals.
Before the summer holidays, Sparta reportedly had 70 percent of the marketing budget for the current season in the box. However, the last 30 percent have proved difficult to achieve.
The status now is that the club lacks 1.9 of the twelve million it needs according to the budget. At the same time, income has also disappeared.
– The club has also experienced throughout the autumn that certain partners have canceled/terminated their signed agreements. Mainly agreements that were entered into in the spring of 2024, writes Svendsen.
He states that this loss amounts to over one million kroner.
– In addition, there are still partners who have challenges in maintaining their payment obligations, which in turn goes beyond the liquidity planning of the club, reveals the Sparta top.
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Trouble in Sports Norway
Now he is asking both the club’s faithful fans and potential new supporters to mobilize.
Sparta is in fifth place in the Eliteserien after the club has played 19 games this season.
Østfoldklubben is not the only club in Sports Norway where the lights have been flashing red recently. Lillehammer ice hockey club is also struggling hard. The club has promised an explanation within a short time.
The situation worries hockey president Tage Pettersen.
– We discussed the situation for the elite clubs at the confederation board meeting this afternoon, and there is reason to be concerned. There are a lot of red warning lights out there in the clubs now. We see that several clubs are struggling, both in Norwegian ice hockey, but also in sport in general, he tells NTB – and adds:
– There are probably many explanations, but the fact that both businesses and families have found it more difficult financially is an obvious reason. The NIHF will meet representatives of the elite clubs on the men’s side from now until Thursday, where the economic reality and its follow-up will be the topic.
Several handball clubs, among them the hard-working Vipers Kristiansand, have also had the specter of bankruptcy hanging over them this autumn.
In the Norwegian Skiing Association, there has been a lot of focus on the lack of sponsors.
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