Background story:
ÖFK was created in 1996 through the merge of several clubs in Östersund. A few years later, former army man Daniel Kindberg got very involved in the club, giving it an "English profile". Lots of clubs in northern Sweden do this as there is an abundance of well-paid work opportunities, so you can work half time at one of those jobs and half time has a footballer and make more money than you would in i.e. League 2.
After taking over as chairman in 2010, Kindberg started to invest in the club as well as finding external investors. After getting relegated to the fourth tier at the end of the 2010 season, Kindberg called his friend Graeme Jones at Swansea raging about how useless all managers are.
"Its your fault for picking the wrong ones", Jones said.
"Well, who should I pick then?"
Graeme Jones knew a guy who had been lurking at Martinez training sessions in Swansea. That guy was Graham Potter.
Things started to go really well but chairman Kindberg thought it could move even quicker. As he was also the chairman of Östersundshem (the communal accomodation company), he seemingly paid for "fake" jobs to a man in the construction business who was also sponsoring ÖFK.
Eh... this is messy, but in short, Kindberg supposedly moved money (about £1m) from the city owned Östersundshem to Östersunds FK, and is currently on trial for this.
Since Potter leaving and the Kindberg investigation starting last year, Östersund has been crumbling. Their Europa League adventure made the club naive and they have been living way above what they can afford. This season they signed a lot of players who has unfortunately all been shit, so they havent been able to sell any players, which is needed for them to survive.
The trial against Daniel Kindberg continues, the results in Allsvenskan remains bad (placed in the relegation playoff spot atm), the board of the club said two days ago "we need 10 miljoner kronor (£0,8m) in 10 days or its over" and it seems the (former) masterpiece Potter spent 8 years of his life creating might go into bankruptcy, though there is still some hope.
£0,8m might not sound much but a top tier club in northern Sweden normally wont have a turnover above ~£4m (unless years when you play in the EL), so its a lot of money to them.
Personally, I dont really care, but sort of sad for Potter who invested so much time and effort in ÖFK and now is getting to hear the news that everything is falling apart.
Former chairman (and "strong man") Daniel Kindberg is guilty as **** and wont be able to help out, and even if the club would survive, they are very likely going to have to pay £4m to Huesca in Spain because of weird shit regarding Saman Ghoddos failed transfer to the club.. but now we're on detail level.
TLDR: Östersunds FK, the club Potter took from the Swedish fourth tier to Europa League, will likely fold unless they find £0,8m in 10 days. They also have a shitload of other problems and I feel a bit sad for GP who loved both the city and the club.
Bonus: GP:s first day at work in ÖFK (January 2011):
ÖFK was created in 1996 through the merge of several clubs in Östersund. A few years later, former army man Daniel Kindberg got very involved in the club, giving it an "English profile". Lots of clubs in northern Sweden do this as there is an abundance of well-paid work opportunities, so you can work half time at one of those jobs and half time has a footballer and make more money than you would in i.e. League 2.
After taking over as chairman in 2010, Kindberg started to invest in the club as well as finding external investors. After getting relegated to the fourth tier at the end of the 2010 season, Kindberg called his friend Graeme Jones at Swansea raging about how useless all managers are.
"Its your fault for picking the wrong ones", Jones said.
"Well, who should I pick then?"
Graeme Jones knew a guy who had been lurking at Martinez training sessions in Swansea. That guy was Graham Potter.
Things started to go really well but chairman Kindberg thought it could move even quicker. As he was also the chairman of Östersundshem (the communal accomodation company), he seemingly paid for "fake" jobs to a man in the construction business who was also sponsoring ÖFK.
Eh... this is messy, but in short, Kindberg supposedly moved money (about £1m) from the city owned Östersundshem to Östersunds FK, and is currently on trial for this.
Since Potter leaving and the Kindberg investigation starting last year, Östersund has been crumbling. Their Europa League adventure made the club naive and they have been living way above what they can afford. This season they signed a lot of players who has unfortunately all been shit, so they havent been able to sell any players, which is needed for them to survive.
The trial against Daniel Kindberg continues, the results in Allsvenskan remains bad (placed in the relegation playoff spot atm), the board of the club said two days ago "we need 10 miljoner kronor (£0,8m) in 10 days or its over" and it seems the (former) masterpiece Potter spent 8 years of his life creating might go into bankruptcy, though there is still some hope.
£0,8m might not sound much but a top tier club in northern Sweden normally wont have a turnover above ~£4m (unless years when you play in the EL), so its a lot of money to them.
Personally, I dont really care, but sort of sad for Potter who invested so much time and effort in ÖFK and now is getting to hear the news that everything is falling apart.
Former chairman (and "strong man") Daniel Kindberg is guilty as **** and wont be able to help out, and even if the club would survive, they are very likely going to have to pay £4m to Huesca in Spain because of weird shit regarding Saman Ghoddos failed transfer to the club.. but now we're on detail level.
TLDR: Östersunds FK, the club Potter took from the Swedish fourth tier to Europa League, will likely fold unless they find £0,8m in 10 days. They also have a shitload of other problems and I feel a bit sad for GP who loved both the city and the club.
Bonus: GP:s first day at work in ÖFK (January 2011):
