Ertuğrul Doğan: “The most important problem facing Trabzonspor is tax debt.”

Trabzonspor President Ertuğrul Doğan pointed out that the most significant problem facing the burgundy-blue club is tax debt, stating, “Trabzonspor needs to increase its revenue streams as soon as possible and generate its own fixed income. Along with these revenues, Trabzonspor needs to get rid of its tax debt, which has an interest rate exceeding 50% as soon as possible.”

An important cooperation protocol was signed between the Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality and Trabzonspor Club. The protocol, signed by Trabzon Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç and Trabzonspor Club President Ertuğrul Doğan, formalized the construction process of Trabzonspor College. According to the protocol, the necessary land for the construction of Trabzonspor College will be provided by the Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality. To procure a land of suitable size in compliance with the Ministry of National Education’s regulations, the metropolitan municipality will conduct feasibility studies on appropriate properties in the province and select the most suitable land, which will be given to Trabzonspor Club. All construction costs related to the college will be covered by Trabzonspor Club. The protocol states that all cooperation and coordination between the parties will be provided by the Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality. Additionally, Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality and Trabzonspor have committed not to transfer the usage rights they obtain to third parties or other public institutions. After the completion of the college’s construction, a new protocol regarding its operation will be drafted. Following this protocol signed at the metropolitan municipality, Trabzonspor President Ertuğrul Doğan attended the Metropolitan Municipality Council Meeting. President Doğan informed council members about the joint efforts between the metropolitan municipality and Trabzonspor and the current situation of Trabzonspor, stating that they have accomplished significant work in the last 20 months, saying, “I have been president for about 20 months; I have lived in Istanbul for the last 4 years, meaning I lived in this city for 41 years, grew up in these streets and stands. We did business here. Then, of course, being the president of Trabzonspor is the most honorable and prestigious duty I could have in this life. I have been carrying out this duty for 20 months. In this 20-month period, we have done significant work economically; I cannot say that we have been very successful on the field. We finished last year in 3rd place, and our goal this year is to finish at the top of the league. But we have done very serious work, especially in terms of economics.”

“Trabzonspor has 2-3 major problems economically”

Emphasizing that they have freed Trabzonspor from an annual interest burden of approximately 815 million TL, President Doğan said, “It is very important to talk about the real situation of Trabzonspor, what it is facing, for everyone who loves Trabzonspor to know. Trabzonspor has 2-3 major problems when we look at it from an economic perspective. The most important problem of Trabzonspor is the imbalance between income and expenses. Currently, our team cost is about 35 million Euros. When the bonuses and premiums that come at the end of the year are added, it changes slightly. On top of that, there is a tax cost of nearly 40%. And our operating expenses. In summary, Trabzonspor is currently facing a deficit of around 45-50 million Euros annually. Therefore, this amount needs to be found every year. While doing this, we also took over a significant debt carried over from previous years. This is constantly discussed in this city. When we took over, we had around 3 billion in debt. We have been in this position for about 20 months. In just 20 months, the interest came to around 2.2 billion. Additionally, we closed a deficit of 45-50 million (for two seasons) that we had from the previous season. It is often said, ‘We found 9 billion, but where is this money?’ This money is here. If we had not exited the Banks Association, we would have freed our club from an interest burden of approximately 815 million TL annually.”

“The most important problem facing Trabzonspor now is tax debt”

Ertuğrul Doğan stated that as of last week, Trabzonspor had a tax debt of 2.2 billion TL, saying, “But did it end? No. The most important problem facing Trabzonspor now is tax debt. As of last week, the tax debt is 2.2 billion TL. However, we talk about this, but when we mention a different amount in a month, people ask, ‘What happened?’ The reason for the differences that arise every month is related to this. We are all facing these situations in our work, companies. Trabzonspor needs to increase its income streams as soon as possible and generate its own fixed income. Along with these revenues, Trabzonspor must quickly get rid of its tax debt, which has an interest rate exceeding 50%. Otherwise, a tax debt of 2.2 billion, which could reach 2.5 billion in a month, results in a simple calculation of 3.75 billion next year and around 6 billion a year later due to taxes. With this interest structure and the current state of interest rates in our country, this situation is not sustainable.”

“I have been president for 20 months, and we are not the main responsible party”

President Doğan mentioned that they put nearly 9 billion TL into the club without any loans, stating, “I always say this; this is not something I can achieve alone or my management alone. I have been president for 20 months, and we are not the main responsible party. But I have been saying since the day we arrived, I am willing to pay this debt. I have never shied away from this, nor have I taken a step back for even a minute. I will not be modest about this. We have also put nearly 9 billion TL into the club without any loans, and we have made our payments. If we could not pay this interest burden, if the figures had piled up due to the imbalance between income and expenses over the past two years, we would be discussing a debt of over 10 billion now. People ask, ‘How does this happen?’ I explain each one and tell them the reasons. It’s actually very simple. For those who want to understand, it’s very simple; for those who do not want to understand, it’s hard.”

“We need everyone’s support to quickly relieve Trabzonspor from these troubles”

President Doğan stated that they need to develop projects more rapidly and expressed his gratitude to the Metropolitan Mayor, saying, “I want to thank our metropolitan mayor. He has always shown us his brotherhood and support in every environment and demonstrated his Trabzonspor spirit. Wherever we go, we have witnessed that they share our troubles and suffer the same difficulties. We need everyone’s support to quickly relieve Trabzonspor from these troubles. Trabzonspor is ours; it is all our pride, our love. Right now, I am in this chair. My only goal is to bring Trabzonspor to where it deserves as soon as possible. I have no intention of ‘being president today and doing something else tomorrow.’ I say this everywhere I go. I have not been supported in that sense, but from now on, whoever becomes president, I will be the one who gives the most support as a former president. Let me be clear on this. We need to create this awareness together. We need to relieve Trabzonspor from these troubles and bring it to where it deserves. The greatest responsibility falls on me here. Of course, the greatest responsibility falls on me and my board of directors. We must be much more careful at the outset, and we must develop projects more rapidly. Our coach, our team, and our players also need to improve their performance. Everyone, including us, needs to improve.”

“We have a congress process ahead of us”

The president of the burgundy-blue club emphasized that they want to achieve economic independence for Trabzonspor, stating, “We have a congress process ahead of us. I had shared this with our mayors earlier. We have three very important projects. We have projects on land, and we have projects to acquire land. Like other teams in Istanbul, we also need to incorporate these into our structure as soon as possible. We need the support of all our mayors on this. This is not something that my management and I can achieve alone. As long as the Trabzonspor community is united, with your support, we want to realize these projects and lead Trabzonspor to economic freedom as soon as possible. Our aim and thoughts are this. We signed the protocol regarding Trabzonspor College with our Mayor of Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality. We believe this will be very important for Trabzonspor. We think it will be crucial for the new generation of athletes to be raised in Trabzonspor. The salvation of Trabzonspor is in the infrastructure. Since the day we arrived, during my presidency, we have provided all the support we can to all the youth teams and all amateur clubs.”

Trabzon Metropolitan Mayor Genç: “It will be an education center”

Trabzon Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Metin Genç emphasized that they have taken a very important step for the city, stating, “Today, we are experiencing the happiness of signing an important project with Trabzonspor Club. We have taken a significant step for the future of Trabzon and Trabzonspor. The construction of Trabzonspor College is a project that will greatly benefit our city and young people. By building this college, we will also strengthen Trabzonspor’s brand value through education. As Trabzon Metropolitan Municipality, we will undertake the procurement of the necessary land and feasibility studies within the scope of this protocol. We will support the project by providing all necessary coordination. In this process, we have implemented an important cooperation that will add value to our city and provide new benefits to Trabzonspor and Trabzon. We do not see this project merely as a school construction; we also consider it an education center that Trabzonspor will provide for future generations. I thank everyone who contributed; may it be beneficial for Trabzonspor and Trabzon.”

Trabzonspor Club President Ertuğrul Doğan also thanked Mayor Genç for his support, stating, “Trabzonspor College is a significant gain for the city.”