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MALAGA FC PRESS CONFERENCE

22/05/16

Last nights Top 100 Division 4 play off semi final defeat to Udinese brings down the curtain on Malaga's erratic season, however the main talking point was the future of manager Greg Billington who looked a very subdued and disheveled figure last night in the home team dug out.

Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani kicked things off with the announcement that, after days of  media speculation linking Billington with vacant positions at other clubs or even the sack, he would however be staying at Malaga FC for the Top100 season 3 with the full support of the board.

The news was met with a mixture of cheers, hisses and laughter but the Chairman was quick to add that several key issues, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly as he put them, had been thrashed out and a new strategy was now in place that will see Billington take full control of team affairs, the youth set-up and the medical facilities with the full backing of the Chairman and support from the board.

In short:

The Good - Billington has done a sterling job in reducing the average age of the squad and at the same time significantly lowering the wage bill. Big earners like Kaka, Weligton, Boka and Dudu have all left the club since Billington took charge and younger, brighter talents have been earmarked to come into the first team for next season including one or two of the clubs youth players.

The Bad - Missing out on promotion after occupying the top 3 spots until the very last week of the season had angered the fans, some of them calling for Billington to be sacked. However Al Thani was quick to defend his manager by stating that he had in fact had very limited resources at his disposal including a very poor transfer budget, a rapidly ageing squad and he had also been very unlucky with injury's and bans to key personnel. 

Whilst pointing out that there are not massive amounts available for next season there would however be less pressure on the manager as he rebuilds the squad his way and tries to emulate, what in fact has been a fairly decent season on the whole with a semi final appearance in the Coppa Del Burro to add to the 4th placed league finish.

The Ugly - Succumbing to the mounting pressure and mind games and airing a rather embarrassing rant on Top100 TV. Al Thani stated that not only was this very unprofessional but it also reflected badly on the club as a whole and would not be tolerated again. Billington was quick to agree and stated that the new season will be a fresh start for everyone at the club and every effort will be made to push once again for promotion and a decent cup run.

The Future: 

Folowing on, Billington stated that missing out on promotion via goal difference, and just 1 single goal, had been the most disappointing aspect of the season but with the arrivals of Eren Derdiyok and Tomas Necid as the new Malaga CF strike force for next season he feels that scoring goals will not be an issue.

Unfortunately Malaga will be unable to compete in the transfer market with the big boys, however Billington has already managed to add a bit of quality to the midfield with the likes of Olcay Sahan and Vlad Ignatyev arriving in the last couple of weeks. Also joining the club in the past few days to add competition at the back, Swiss full back Francois Moubandje, South African Anele Mgcongca and the experienced Costel Pantilimon providing vital cover.
Billington finished the press conference by stating that with the full backing of the Chairman and with the fans on board he is pleased and excited to be staying at Malaga FC and really looking forward to season 3 in SM Top100.

"Viva Los Anchovies"