Good news for the long-suffering fans of Olhanense is the appointment of António Conceição as the club’s new manager.
António Conceição took Moreirense to the 2nd Division title last season after being relegated from the Primeira Liga the previous year. Olhanense will be hoping he can do the same for them but it will be a long gruelling season with forty-six league games plus cup competitions.
The players were due to return to work last Monday but with the squad being rebuilt, the management team in consultation with António Conceição decided to delay the return until Monday July 7.
The new coach said: “We have had a hectic few days to resolve outstanding issues. We must keep within budget which means releasing some players who have salaries far above the reality of the 2nd Division. We need a squad that guarantees a competitive team throughout the season.”
He went on to say: “It is still too early to talk of promotion but the club is ambitious and so am I, otherwise I would not be here. We will set realistic goals and hope the fans will return to support us.”
The first opportunity to see the new players in action will be on Saturday July 19 – kick-off 7.30pm – when English Championship team Huddersfield United will be the opponents.
One thing the two clubs have in common is that they were their respective country’s champions ninety years ago. At that time, the manager of Huddersfield was Herbert Chapman who went on to make Arsenal the dominant team of the 1930s.
The Olhão-based club has been undertaking extensive renovation work on the pitch at the José Arcanjo Stadium to ensure that last season’s fiasco of playing the first half of the season at the Algarve Stadium will not be repeated.
By CHRIS WRIGHT
