File Photo: Zamalek’s sporting director John Edward. Photo courtesy of Zamalek.
Edward took the charge earlier in July in a bid from the management to boost the team's chances in competing in different fronts, but both the results and performances were negatively affected by the unstable financial situation.
Beside the series of financial and logistical issues, the situation worsened recently as Zamalek have been handed a fresh three-window transfer ban by FIFA on 17 December.
The FIFA decision marked the club's third such sanction in a matter of weeks after failing to pay late dues of former players.
“It was an honor for me to take the charge at my home Zamalek. I didn’t seek money nor a prestige but I was standing between the responsibility and the great challenge; realizing that loyalty isn’t sufficient without the needed possibilities that meets fans’ ambitions,” Edward said in a statement on Tuesday.
“I came with realistic dreams and plans that were based on promises and big guarantees and we were waiting for the flow of hundreds of millions that will open a new future but what was fulfilled was a limited number that only helped in registering the players,” he added.
Zamalek currently lie fourth in the Egyptian Premier League table with 22 points from 12 games, seven points behind leaders Ceramica Cleopatra who played one game more.
Despite the financial crisis, the Whites advanced to the Egypt Cup round of 16 after a 1-0 win over second-division side Baladeyet El-Mahalla in the round of 32 at Arab Contractors Stadium on Sunday. At the continental level, the team is still competing in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.
Edward stressed that he preferred to remain silent in the last period in hope of seeing some improvement and also to avoid frustrating fans but contrary to expectations crises increased and the situation became more complicated.
The sporting director accused the management of not fulfilling its promises, stressing that the continuous failure of fulfilling the team’s commitments, accepting the transfer ban and also letting the team stars go are all rejected solutions by the logic of competition and also aren’t appropriate to Zamalek’s name.
“I put all these facts to the fans in respect to their awareness and their right to know and from this point I am clearly inviting all officials not just the club board to find urgent and real solutions as there is no way for more postponed promises or temporary solutions,” he explained.
“Providing the needed resources and support became obligatory to save the club’s entity and keep its ability for competing. Despite the resilience of the football team despite these difficult circumstances, the team will totally collapse within few days without a radical solution,” he concluded.
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