news has written several cases about how Bodø/Glimt apparently made gold out of gray stone with separated players bought cheaply. But recently it seems that Bodø/Glimt has adopted a different strategy. In this summer’s transfer window, Bodø/Glimt used summers, which are a rare commodity in Norwegian football. According to reliable Transfermarkt, Glimt spent 9.8 million euros, corresponding to approx. NOK 99 million, in transfer sums for Patrick Berg, Albert Grønbæk, Lars-Jørgen Salvesen and Nino Zugelj. In 2017, by comparison, Glimt had an annual budget of NOK 40 million in the 1st division. General manager Frode Thomassen in Bodø/Glimt is clear that the club has become more attractive and that they have of course increased the salary level since the season in 2017. But the club is run financially soundly, according to Thomassen. – Several of the figures circulating in the media, both in terms of salary levels, but also in matters of transition, are not accurate. The cases are more complex than what is presented, says Thomassen to Avisa Nordland. – How big a change has there been to Glimt’s salary policy in recent years? – It is clear that our salary level has adjusted up, but there are several other clubs in Norway that pay more than us. That is not where our attractiveness lies. Rejects claims of giant salary Sports editor in iTromsø has claimed to have sources who said that Patrick Berg received an annual loan of NOK 9 million. Thomassen rejects this. – It is not precise. It doesn’t hang around and has no root in reality, says the Glimt boss clearly. Gets support for spending money from the local population Although questions have been raised about the county itself, it seems that Bodø/Glimt’s summer investment has broad support. In an opinion poll carried out by InFact for news and Amedia, 46.6 per cent responded that they were positive about spending money. Admittedly, 34.5 per cent of those questioned answer “don’t know” to questions about their attitude. Support in the population is wider among men than among women. The survey was carried out among 1,018 respondents in Nordland over the age of 18, with a margin of error of three percent. – Their spending in the last transfer window has been criticized both in the press and by other clubs. Some people call you “new rich” or “buying club”. Do these descriptions fit Bodø/Glimt? – No, they definitely don’t. There is a lot of talk about money in football. When we are in Eindhoven, for example, we are the underdogs against a club with greater resources. Bodø/Glimt has built up a larger resource base than we had previously, and larger than many other clubs in Norway. It gives us a better starting point for building a club, Thomassen replies – Automatically becomes more expensive news’s football expert Carl Erik Torp thinks Glimt’s spending appears reasonable. – Money must be spent to make money. They have created their own income and we are still talking about small sums compared to other countries. Torp also points to another reason why spending is increasing. – Players that Glimt wants to buy automatically become more expensive because the selling club knows that Bodø/Glimt has money. That’s how the market works.
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Bodø/Glimt boss rejects high salaries and buying party – news Nordland
