First division bottom club in financial chaos! Salary shortfalls prompt professionals to take a drastic step

Šibenik (Croatia) - Financial chaos, a permanent crisis, existential fears: raven-black clouds hover over the club grounds of HNK Šibenik, which is heading inexorably towards relegation in Croatia's top flight of soccer. But it is not just in sporting terms that the first division club is currently in an extremely precarious situation, with horrendous debts also exacerbating the club's future. But anyone who thinks things can't get any more precarious is very much mistaken.

Employer in default of payment: Players of the Croatian first division soccer club HNK Šibenik boycotted training.
Employer in default of payment: Players of the Croatian first division soccer club HNK Šibenik boycotted training.  © IMAGO / Pixsell

Professionals from the financially struggling club decided to boycott in the midst of the emergency - and stayed away from training sessions on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

According to several media outlets, the protest action was preceded by a failure to pay wages. Specifically, this relates to salary arrears for this calendar year.

However, one of the three defaults has since been settled, after which the strike was called off. This was confirmed by club owner Željko Karajica (54) in an interview with Index.hr.

"The players trained today [Thursday, editor's note] as planned and preparations for Sunday's game have begun," the 54-year-old told the online portal. "The important thing is that everything has been agreed."

Meanwhile,Sibenik.in revealed that the second salary payment will be made next Monday. In addition to the players, the workers' association and employees of the soccer school are also included.

Without head coach! Šibenik pros prepare for home game against NK Osijek

Curiously, the players still trained despite the boycott - albeit without head coach Rajko Vidović (50). An artificial pitch had been rented in the Mandalina district, where they had worked through the recent 1-0 defeat at leaders HNK Hajduk Split, among other things.

The club from the Adriatic will continue their campaign next Sunday evening when they host eighth-placed NK Osijek. Three points will be more than essential if they are to avoid dropping into second place. Nine points separate the bottom club from the drop zone, while only three points separate them from the relegation places.