– It’s a bit hard to keep up the joy of playing. We are trying to have a bit of a cool time, those of us who are left now. That’s what Joakim Eidsa Arnestad says. He has played for Lillehammer ice hockey his entire career. In December, it became clear that the club was struggling financially, and that they would enter the new year with several million in deficit. Now the club is doing everything they can to reduce their costs. Among other things, several players are said to have been told that they are free to talk to other clubs. – It’s really hopeless. We don’t know who is leaving and who is staying, says Eidsa. – The economy is absolutely miserable Arne Uhlen, acting chairman of Lillehammer ice hockey, says the situation is critical. In addition to the club carrying last year’s deficit into 2023, they are missing approximately NOK 500,000 in income each month to break even. CRITICAL: Uhlen believes the financial situation at the club is critical. Photo: Roar Berntsen / news The chairman believes that the club’s finances are absolutely miserable. – It affects not only the club, but the entire local community that is happy and interested in Lillehammer hockey. It’s heavy, there’s no doubt about it. Surprises the ice hockey association Secretary General of the Norwegian Ice Hockey Association Ottar Eide says that they are surprised that the club has let it take so long before they have taken the necessary measures. – We want the clubs themselves to take their situation seriously early enough, so that they can move on. SURPRISED: Eide says they are surprised that Lillehammer ice hockey has allowed it to take so long. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB The Ice Hockey Association has now given the Lillehammer club a transfer refusal, because it will cause the club even more costs. This means that the club cannot accept new players for a period of time. Now the general secretary hopes that the club can mobilize enough to prevent them from going bankrupt. Chairman Uhlen believes that the club has control over it. – We are over the most critical point in terms of bankruptcy, he says. Still, the club must do everything they can to cut spending. Tells the players to look at other clubs On Monday, it became known that national team player Andreas Martinsen is moving from Lillehammer to Vålerenga. – It has been a bit boring in Lillehammer in recent years. I also think this is necessary for me to keep my motivation up, says Martinsen to news. EXCHANGE: Andreas Martinsen goes from Lillehammer to Vålerenga. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB Chairman Uhlen does not want to comment on exact amounts when it comes to player salaries, but says that they save a lot on Martinsen changing clubs. – We don’t want that, but given the economic situation it turned out that way. Several of the Lillehammer players have reportedly been told that they should talk to other clubs. Martin Gran believes that the message came a little too soon. – I have created a life here, he says. TRAGIC: Gran thinks the whole situation is tragic. Photo: Roar Berntsen / news Gran says that the cup overflowed a little during the previous match, when the message came. He believes the situation is tragic, and that it is felt in the playing group. – We try to stay positive. It will probably take some time, so they get used to it.
ttn-69
Lillehammer ice hockey in economic crisis – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
