Álex Talavera wants to preside over the Catalan Football Federation from next May and is very clear about the main lines of his project, which involves decentralizing the entity and saving on salaries and other expenses.
Who is Alex Talavera?
I am 40 years old, have two degrees in Engineering (Electronic and Electrical) and a degree in Marketing. On a professional level, I work in an energy company and, as far as sports are concerned, I have played in the lower categories of Penya Barcelonista Sants, FC Barcelona, and Damm and, when I left the formative stage, I went through Tenerife, Nàstic from Tarragona, I went to England for a year and then came back to play for Cornellà. Later, I set up a candidacy to preside over the UE Cornellà, we managed to win and I recently resigned in order to focus on the candidacy for the presidency of the Catalan Football Federation (FCF).
Why this change?
Because I think the FCF needs a makeover. I think that the Catalan clubs can have better conditions, both financially and in terms of service.
How will you get it?
We have a program with 14 points. We start with the decentralization of Barcelona’s power in decision-making. We want Tarragona to have its own Federation, to be at the service of the Tarragona clubs and not have to depend on the decision made in an office in Barcelona. A Federation with its own budget. Let it be in Tarragona where the decisions of the Tarragona clubs are made. In this way, we can bring the Federation closer to the clubs.
What are your strong bets?
We want to promote female talent a lot, both in sports and at the level of the Board of Directors. We also want the players, of formative age, to train in their town or neighborhood club and thus eliminate some behaviors that we do not like.
How will you get a child to stay playing in the neighborhood if an entity, for example, of the stature of Nàstic comes to look for him?
You can promote that the cost of a new registration is higher than that of a renewal. Thus, possibly, the kid continues in his club. We have to protect the small club.
Is it expensive to play football in Catalonia?
We believe that the clubs can have better economic conditions. But for that, you have to lower costs in the presidency, senior management, positions of trust, duplication of positions, superfluous companies… You have to increase income at the level of sponsorships and revalue the brand. For this, the FCF has to stop always appearing in the newspapers or be present in court.
Do you have more measures planned at an economic level?
Next season the clubs will not have a federal cost.
Will the president continue to charge 120,000 euros?
We are going to change this very clearly.
How much will you charge?
Half.
To what extent would it be important for Nàstic to ascend to Second A?
Much. I would like as a former player and as FCF we have to help the clubs to be as high as possible.
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