[FM14] I Gondolieri - A New Club in Italy

Ternana Expelled

Ternana fans with a banner

Italian Serie B club Ternana Calcio has been expelled from professional football.

The Italian Football Association released this statement:

"Siamo spiacenti di annunciare che abbiamo dovuto espellere uno dei nostri club di calcio professionistico in Italia. Il club è Ternana Calcio con sede a Terni, Italia centrale.
Dopo le accuse di partite truccate, che viene presa molto sul serio all'interno della FA, nella stagione 2013/14, abbiamo deciso di agire. Non possiamo rivelare le partite che sono stati corretti per motivi legali.

Il club ha presentato ricorso contro la decisione, ma lo respinge, come un club coinvolto in partite truccate non sarà tollerato."

This translates to

"We regret to announce that we have had to expel one of our clubs from professional football in Italy. The club is Ternana Calcio based in Terni, central Italy.
After allegations of Match Fixing, which is taken very seriously within the FA, in the 2013/14 season, we have decided to take action. We cannot reveal the matches that were fixed for legal reasons.

The club have appealed against the decision, but we will reject, as a club involved in match fixing will not be tolerated."

Ternana have had financial difficulty in the past, having to reform in 1993, but have had nothing like this before in their history, unlike most Italian Football Clubs. A supporter spokeswomen said that "the fans were deeply disappointed with the club, and have no right to play [in Serie B]."

Ternana have never won any silverware, but have been promoted to all divisions in the country.

Speculation is that a new club run by a foreign buisnessman will take Ternana's place in the division, but other options include promoting another club from a lower division.

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Thanks for all the support on the old story, but now it is all about this one, I hope that me and AAN can make this good!

New Club Revealed

Venice, home of Italy's newest club

Englishman Thomas Allery has announced a new club to replace Ternana Calcio, who were recently booted from Italian Football for match fixing last season.

The 25 year-old, from Farnham, Surrey, a buisnessman, had this to say to La Gazzetta dello Sport, an Italian media giant:

I am very happy to announce that I will be owning a football club in Italy. It was an opportunity that I couldn't refuse. It has been my dream since I started playing 13 years ago. I want to promise to the club's fans that we will be successful, and to back me to the very end. I know what I am doing, I have coaching qualifications, and have studied how to run a football club for many years. My dad regularly visited the country on buisness and only told be great things about the country and I cannot wait to get started here. The opportunity that this has presented me is fantastic and I will grasp it with my two hands.

He also announced that the club would be based in the legendary Italian town of Venice, or in Italian, Venezia, in Northern Italy. Allery also said that the club would play it's home games at the Stadio Pierluigi Penzo, the home of the other club in Venice, until a new stadium is finished.

Stadio Pierluigi Pezo, where AS Venezia will play their home games until 2016

I am funding for a new stadium to be built in Venice for the club, but it has not started yet, and we need a place to play now, so we will play there [Stadio Pierluigi Penzo]. I am also helping fund for a new state of the art training and youth facilites for the club, which will be completed soon, as the builders are working day and night. I want to attract all the best young talents in the area, as the aim is to build a self-sustained club.

Allery also revealed the club logo and kits today, in partnership with sporting giants Nike.

The logo of AS Venezia

The logo is a red circle split into 4 sections. In the top left, there is water, to symbolise the canals and lagoon that surround the town, top right is the clubs annogram, which features heavily on Italian clubs. The strips on the bottom half symbolise the tops that the gondoliers wear in the city.

Kit manufacturer Nike's kit unveiling

The club also revealed the 2014/15 season's kits, and announced sponsorships and partnerships with YOOX, an Italian clothing brand and UNICEF, a worldwide charity organisation, and you can read about the work they do on their website.

The home kit is split diagonally, with the clubs colours of gold and red featuring. The colour is red and the sleeves of the shirt swap. The sponsor, YOOX, is in black and white.

The away kit is black and white hoops, to symbolise the shirts that the famous gondoliers wear when at work. The club takes inspiration from them, as the nickname is I Gondolieri. The sponsor is in red and gold, the colours of the home kit.

Thomas Allery also announced the manager and the cheif scout for the club

Alessandro Nesta, the new manager of AS Venezia

I am delighted to say that Italian legend Alessandro Nesta will be leading the club. Having just retired from an out of this world, trophy laden career, we won't have forgotten a thing and he was coached by some of the best managers ever, such as Carlo Ancelotti."

Nesta won four league titles, three in Italy and one in Canada. He wone the UEFA Champions League three times.

Nesta had this to say about taking up the position

To be involved with this is amazing and I thank Thomas for giving me this opportunity and I hope I will do well."

Paolo Maldini, the club's first Chief Scout

Allery will also revealed the Chief Scout for the club, who is none other than Italian centre back Paolo Maldini.

"I am delighted to be able to work here at this well run club. When I learnt that Alessandro was the manager, I had no doubts about the role and I am glad to work with a great friend."

Maldini, who is a member of the Italian Football Hall of Fame, also played for AC Milan with Nesta, with the two forming a solid defensive partnership. Maldini played for AC Milan for his entire career and was capped and incredible 126 times for his country.

16 Signings Announced

Today, new Italian Club AS Venezia announced 16 signings that all have arrived for various fees. No goalkeepers were signed, an area that new Manager and Chief Scout Nesta and Maldini to address. Here is a quick overview of them.

DEFENDERS:

Roberto Cardinale - A 32 year old Italian Centre Back who spent his entire career in the low Italian leagues
Marco Pisano - A 31 year old Centre Back that has played for some reputable Italian clubs, but only made a handful of appearances
Simone Sini - Co-owned between the club and AS Roma, he has never really settled down a first team place in any team
Christian Terlizzi - One Cap 33 year old Italian Centre back has been playing his trade for teams that are floating at the bottom of Serie A
Felice Piccolo - The 29 year old Centre Back has been playing his trade for Romanian side CFR Cluj until joining ASV
Dorin Goian - The Romanian Centre Back has enjoyed some successful time previously in Italia, playing for Palermo
Loris Bacchetti - The 20 year old Centre Back is one for the future, but could quite easily nail down a place in Nesta's side

MIDFIELDERS AND WINGERS:

Davide Bottone - The 27 year old Italian is in the prime years of his career and wll be looking to secure a midfield birth in Nesta's starting 11
Antonino Barillà - The 25 year old winger will use his speed and crossing skills to create goals for the team
Simone Bentivoglio - The experienced Italian winger is under a Global Ban until September, but once he is fit and ready, he will be key for the side
Pentelis Kafes - The 35 year old Greek will be the experienced head in the midfield, having won the Euro's with Greece in 2004
Lukasz Madej - the 31 year old Polish winger will be looking to make goals for the team
Elio De Silvestro - The 20 year old Italian is also another player for the future, and already shows signs of being a class player
Luis Seijas - The 27 year old Venezuelan winger will be marching down the flanks for ASV
Jiri Valenta - The 25 year old Czech midfielder will be the creative spark in the midfield

STRIKERS:

Vincenzo Iaquinta - The experienced striker will be banging in the goals for the club this season