Ayats: "We have a model and experience"

Carles Ayats, a member of the candidacy of Barcelona presidential candidate Jaume Ferrer, gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu.


Ferrer uses to say that he wants to continue with the current management model, but changing the style of governing...
Yes, we want a president who appears less in the media, because we believe that the spotlights should be on the players and the coaches.

You announced quite soon that you would take part, but it has not been easy so far. First you disagreed with Laporta, now you have his support, there was the famous spying case... The members could penalize these changes of opinion?
No, Jaume has come out of these events stronger since his leadership has been recognized. He has always managed to deal with the pressure and to stay committed to the club, not like other directors who chose to leave. It was not easy to form a consensus candidacy, and the member will value that.

Ferrer has enough charisma and popularity to win the elections?
Without any doubt. The members surely appreciate the fact that Jaume has been a director since 2003 and that he has not appeared in the media until now. This shows that he has always focused on managing the club well.

But some polls suggest Sandro Rosell is the favorite. Do you believe them?
What I think is that it is clear to the member that to continue winning our project is more secure, because we have a model and the experience of the past years. The polls show a positive trend for Jaume, and we are optimistic.

Which of his virtues would you highlight?
It's a great candidate who has always wanted to be president of Barça. I would highlight his experience, commitment, teamwork, leadership, mental strength at delicate times...

As a member of the current board, Ferrer will certainly be ask for explanations on some of the latest decisions of the board. What do you think about the appointment of Johan Cruyff as honorary president?
We think it's positive, although we also think it should have been done earlier because he already deserved it for a long time.

There's also a lot of talk about pacts. Can you confirm that you won't do it?
We want to get to the final vote alone because we have a strong project. For the moment, we are not considering anything else and if they offer us a pact one day, that should always be with Jaume as leader of the candidacy.

And what would your contribution to the candidacy be?
As an economist and an administrator, I believe I can bring, first of all, a fresh view on things. I am 39 years old, the same as Jaume when he arrived at the club, and I hope to add enthusiasm, ability to think and hard work.

this was the second part of this interview. you can read the first part here.

Read more:
Ferrer: "Guardiola and Begiristian are untouchable"
Ferrer presenting three new team members
Ferrer wants to personally head social area

interview: dani colmena

[picture] Candidates take part in football game

This morning, members of several presidential candidacies, former players of FC Barcelona and representatives of the press have played a football tournament in Barcelona.

From left to right:
Agustí Benedito, Alexis Plaza, Santiago Salvat, Jaume Guixà, Carles Ayats [candidacy Jaume Ferrer] and Josep Maria Bartomeu [candidacy Sandro Rosell]

Ayats: "Guardiola already knows us"

Carles Ayats, a member of the candidacy of Barcelona presidential candidate Jaume Ferrer, gave an interview to Catalan sports paper El 9 Esportiu.


You're one of the few new faces in this election race. When did your relationship with Jaume Ferrer start?
I'm a very big Barça fan and I met Jaume 4 or 5 years ago through mutual friends. I have always firmly believed that he would be the successor of Laporta. And when he made the step forward, I did not hesitate to offer him my help.

The leaders of the three main candidacies were part of that same board of 2003. What differentiates you from the other candidates?
I think we are the only ones that guarantee the continuation of a project that has given us great results. We have a project that works and it would now be very risky to change that. We have to wait for more details about the other candidates, but for us things are clear: we want a president who does not intervene in the sporting decisions, who lets the professionals shine and who keeps the current structure.

What do you think when other candidates, like Marc Ingla, are also claiming this model?
Ingla left the club and did not participate in the year in which the team achieved the biggest successes in the history of the club. When one needed to have the responsibility to hold on, he couldn't deal with the pressure.

You also talk about getting closer to the members...
Both the members as the fan clubs claim that the board would be closer to them, that the president participates in more events... In the case of the fan clubs, we are committed to put into practice their 'XXI century' project, that was proposed to us by their advisory council. The fan clubs ask for more self-management and we will look for a good deal for everyone.

What feelings do you have after the meetings with members and fan clubs?
We feel that the members are proud to belong to this club. Not only for the football team but also for the other sections, which are now at a very high level. The results and the management over the last seven years with great economic and sporting achievements support our claim.

What does it mean to have the explicit support of president Laporta?
We appreciate his support, but we had already set up our candidacy before that he pronounced. Our project has not changed at all after that.

Do you believe that Pep Guardiola will feel comfortable with your project?
As a professional, I'm sure he will not speak out, he's part of the club not of a candidacy. But the member is intelligent and knows that with us, Pep will certainly feel comfortable because he already knows us.

this was the first part of this interview. you can read the second part here.

Read more:
Ferrer: "Guardiola and Begiristian are untouchable"
Ferrer presenting three new team members
Ferrer wants to personally head social area

interview: dani colmena

Ferrer presenting three new team members

Over the past weeks, Barcelona assets vice-president and presidential candidate Jaume Ferrer has officially presented three people who will be part of his board team, besides the five current directors (Albert Perrín, Alfons Castro, Jacint Borràs, Josep Anton Colomer and Jordi Torrent) who have supported Ferrer from the start.

Carles Ayats [picture above] is a 39 year old Catalan real estate developer of sports and shopping centers. Catalan sports paper Sport claimed that he's a former roller hockey player. Ayats could get involved in the social area of the club if Ferrer is elected as president.

Ramon Estebe [first picture below], a 45 year old Catalan lawyer, is founder and partner of the Instructa law firm. He is linked with several commissions of the Catalan football federation, of which he is also an external legal adviser. The role of Estebe in a possible board of directors wouldn't yet be defined.

Josep Ribas [second picture below] is a 49 year old Catalan architect who is a partner at the Ribas & Ribas architectural firm in Barcelona, that is among other things collaborating with famous French architect Jean Nouvel on several project in Catalonia.

Read more:
Director Torrent will be right-hand man Ferrer
Former vice-president Franquesa to support Ferrer
Director Colomer to be treasurer of Ferrer