Jose Maria del Nido has assured that Sevilla have a failsafe plan in place at the club, if he has to serve time in prison.
The Supreme Court in Spain will meet on September 18 to determine the club President’s appeal against a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence handed down in December 2011.
Accused with sending fake bills for legal services totalling €6.73m to Marbella city hall between 1999 and 2003, Del Nido has made clear that should his appeal against his sentence prove unsuccessful, it will not be to Sevilla’s detriment.
“Of course, the President of Sevilla remains confident of justice, I am presumed innocent and I hope that the appeal is resolved and I am recognised as innocent,” this week commented the President, who has been in charge at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan since May 2002.
“In the unlikely event that I neither hope nor want to happen, that the law prevents me from being President, then we are a board of directors will decide.
“In such circumstances, Sevilla will not be left to chance, because it is a situation in which there should be a presidential baton after 11 years.
“If the circumstances dictate, everything is provided for.”
Del Nido refused to comment on plans for succession if he is unsuccessful in his appeal, but it is speculated that a ‘crisis cabinet of five board members would take temporary control.
Consisting of Del Nido’s son and a director José María del Nido Carrasco, Vice-President Jose Castro, two deputy directors in Manuel Vizcaino and Monchi and administrative director Francisco Cano, the group would reportedly lead the club through until December’s shareholder meeting.
The intention then would be for Del Nido’s son to be voted in as President.
