Real Mallorca have been cast into the abyss of the Spanish Second Division after a 5 year stay in La Liga A resounding final day victory against already relegated Oviedo was not enough for the Islanders to retain their place. They were tied on 42 points with Levante and Osasuna with a better goal difference than the former. However in Spain where teams are tied in this situation it’s the head to head that counts not goal difference. Mallorca drew at home to Levante and lost to them away so the team from Valencia were saved. Normally 42 points is enough but there was a huge concertina effect at the bottom of La Liga and at the final reckoning only 3 points separated Valencia in 10th place and Mallorca in 18th.
For the record Mallorca played their third last game against Getafe in Madrid on the 13th of May and lost 3 – 1. A dreadful defensive first half with an error from debutant youth team player Orejuela and a calamitous mix up between goalkeeper Leo Roman and Martin Valjent gifted 2 goals to the home side.
A third after half time ended the contest despite Mascarell pulling one back for Mallorca late on. Next up Mallorca travelled to Levante, who were below them in the league at that stage, on the 17th of May knowing a draw and a win in the final two matches would see them safe. Mascarell was suspended and young David Lopez was drafted into the back four and on the half hour he fluffed a simple backpass to gift the home team the lead. Mallorca showed little fight which was unforgivable given the circumstances and Levante wrapped up the victory with a second goal sending their fans into raptures. A few weeks earlier they had seemed doomed but a string of good results left them in a strong position.
On to the final match and Mallorca had a mathematical chance of salvation requiring four results to go their way. A win at home obviously against Oviedo and wins for Girona and Getafe and Levante not to lose at Real Betis kept the optimists hopeful but there was only a 4.3 per cent chance of those results happening. Mallorca kept their side of the bargain alive with Pablo Torre scoring before half time and goals in the second half from Morlanes and predictably Muriqi meant everyone in the 19,000 plus crowd were glued to their mobile phones following the other matches. Sadly Girona and Levante couldn’t deliver and at the end of the game the fans’ fury turned towards the directors box with Director of Football Pablo Ortells bearing the brunt of the recriminations. In the winter transfer window it was obvious that defensive reinforcements were needed with Kumbulla barely kicking a ball in anger because of injuries and captain Raillo was absent for several spells from the defence. Instead of strengthening that area Ortells brought in two wingers Luvumbo and Kumbala.
Inquests have already begun and the financial implications are enormous. In La Liga the cubs receive around 45 millions euros per season in t.v. revenues. In the Second Division this is around 9 million euros. Gate revenue will be vastly reduced as games against the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will be replaced by encounters against the likes of Cordoba, Albacete and Sporting Gijon with no disrespect intended to those teams. There is a parachute payment provided by La Liga for demoted clubs and in Mallorca´s case it will be 18.5 million euros although this will by no means make up the shortfall.
The highest earning players would have to take a substantial reduction in salary as would the non playing staff. It is inconceivable to hope that players of the stature of Muriqi, Pable Torre, Jan Virgili, Samu Costa and Leo Roman will countenance at least a season of second flight football. The vultures are already circling and departures are inevitable.
Head coach Demichelis before the Oviedo game stated he would be prepared to stay if the worst happened. It has emerged that he wants much more say in the recruitment of players than is normal in Spain. The president of Real Mallorca and part of the consortium that owns the club is American Andy Kohlberg. He has somewhat surprisingly publicly backed Ortells and Chief Executive Alonso Diaz who shares the blame for the club´s demise in the fans eyes. Kohlberg is part of the KKR financial group and his net worth is eye watering. He has promised not to walk away from the club and rebuild the club and oversee a return to the elite.
There will be a massive overhaul in the summer months and every fan is hoping for the phoenix to rise from the ashes. Talk of the North will keep readers up to date with developments.
Charles Nutter
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