‘I’m not interested in putting out fire at Red Star’

- “I am in Belgrade for personal reasons only and I’ve met with Red Star chairman Dan Tana purely by coincidence – on the plane to Belgrade from London. We discussed everything, the situation in the club, but for now I will not be involved in any job at Red Star,” Serbian businessman Milan Mandaric speaks for Blic.

Mandaric elaborates on his position.
- “Unfortunately, the time is not right for me to invest. Firstly, I am tied with Leicester, the club I wish to turn into a steady Premier League team, just like Portsmouth. Many see privatization as the answer to the current situation, but people should be aware of the rules of the game beforehand. I don’t do anything superficially.”

How did you respond to Dan Tana’s proposition?
- “He told me of the problems the club is in and the entire Serbian game. I can’t ignore that and Red Star is an institution. I have ties with this country. That is why I don’t exclude my involvement with the club in the future. Red Star firstly need a serious investor, not just a successful businessman, but one who is into sports.”

Do you have anyone in particular in mind?
- “People who work in Serbia and have money should summon all the like-minded people who love Red Star and get things going. In a year or two, when my personal duties allow me, I could engage in cooperation with them. By just putting out the fire or temporarily treating the problem is no way to change things and I don’t want to be part of that.”

Red Star is in urgent need of funds.
- “Everyone knows what the club needs in order to fix the situation, but the question is what they need in long-term. The person who takes up the long-term engagement should stay.”

The fans are interested in your final response to Dan Tana.
- “We agreed to keep in touch. I am not running away from cooperating with him, but that is impossible for the time being. I cannot sit on two chairs – at Leicester and Red Star.”

Do you intend to get involved when the privatization of the club takes place?
- “Why not, but under strict and clear regulations which would exclude any ambiguity. I’ve learned in business to never say never, especially if there are emotions involved. I think the English model of privatization is the best of all. A club should have an owner, just as a team should have its captain – which means a majority owner, not excluding the influence of all the others. At this moment Red Star are in need of a lot of money and a lot of good-willed people.”

Do you not mind that other interested parties are Filip Cepter and Marko Miskovic?
- “I don’t know the gentlemen personally, I’ve just heard they are successful entrepreneurs. If they also love football, then their help is more than welcome.”

What about you help?
- “As I say, when the time is right. If I give my word and commit myself, then it’s like a bank guarantee. I act like that towards anyone I do business with and it will work like that for Red Star,” concludes Milan Mandaric.