Although Hapoel Tel Aviv fans continue to repeatedly claim that they will not buy or renew subscriptions for the upcoming season, the Reds' management is ostensibly trying to broadcast business as usual and does not change strategy regarding the team's budget for the upcoming season, but behind the scenes.
Sources at Hapoel estimated that in two weeks they will have a real indication of the subscription boycott that the fans are planning.
In two weeks, the subscription renewal period for last season's subscribers will end.
According to various estimates at the club, if only about 2000 fans renew their subscription, the Reds will understand that they are in big trouble financially, but if the amount is around 4000 subscribers, the picture will be completely different.
Last year, Hapoel sold a little over 8,000 subscribers who brought an estimated NIS 1.5 million into the club's coffers.
This is a little over 25% of the club's budget and one of Hapoel's two biggest revenues.
So if in the next two weeks the data that reaches the club is that only 2000 fans or less, renewed a subscription, it is a financial problem for Hapoel, because it is about NIS 6 million less in the budget.
In the case of 4000 subscribers or more until the end of the subscription renewal period, the damage is half the amount of revenue, but can vary depending on the signings of reinforcement players, the understandings with the management regarding the boycott, etc.
Hapoel Tel Aviv fans. Fear that the boycott will take place, Photo: Danny Maron
An acquaintance of the club's leaders said: "If the subscription boycott succeeds, it will be an economic catastrophe, but we hope it will not happen."
The catastrophe we are talking about is not only because of the consequences of the subscription boycott, but a wave because of sums of over NIS 3 million that the Reds will have to pay this year for debts and lawsuits like Ahmed Abed and Maor Buzaglo, which will of course fall from the budget.
So if the boycott subscribers succeeds and causes damage of NIS 5-6 million, a budget "pit" of NIS 8-9 million can be created along with the payments for debts and claims.
What will the verb do?
Well, unlike previous years, the option of transferring the club to a new owner, without consideration, is on the table, with the owners' demands being a commitment of NIS 4-10 million each season, and their return on investment in case of future profits from Europe, but the chance is not Too high.
Even before the subscription protest, the Reds wanted to sell a player this year in order to increase the player salary budget by about 20-30%, but due to the current situation, the direction will be to release players and also sell at least 2 senior players, from the next three;
Doron Leidner, Osher Davida and Shai Elias, unless a very high bid is received from Europe in the near future for Leidner in the amount of 2 to 2.5 million euros.
Sources at Hapoel say they had an offer from Hapoel BS for a player trade and a sum of money for the contact Shai Elias, but they are interested in obtaining for him his entire release clause, which stands at 800,000 euros. "We owe live money, no trades, and nothing else , Hapoel concluded.
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