The president of FK Vojvodina, Dragoljub Samardžić, thanked the City of Novi Sad and the companies Srbijagas and Energotehnika Južna Bačka for helping to unblock the club’s account, which was blocked in the previous period due to debts to the Tax Administration.

He spoke about this, as well as many other topics, in an interview for Dnevnik, which we are broadcasting in its entirety.

– First of all, coming to the position of the President of the Board, I promised that we would try to create a much better atmosphere in the club and around it compared to the previous period. I am extremely satisfied with the fact that we managed to unblock the club’s account, which was created due to debts to the Tax Administration, and we succeeded in that. It’s really easier to breathe now. We owe great gratitude for the help in resolving this extremely important issue to the City of Novi Sad and the Mayor Miloš Vučević, our general sponsor Srbijagas, as well as the company Energotehnika Južna Bačka, who helped us in that extraordinarily. With this move, we have created conditions for the team to go to winter preparations, where they will have the opportunity to prepare in the best way for the spring part of the season – says Samardžić.

Since the end of July you have been in the position of acting, now you have been promoted to the first man of the club. Apart from the above, what would you single out as the first results of the activities of the Board of Directors and you as its president?

– I have been at the helm of the club practically since the beginning of this season, which we are finishing successfully in terms of competition, finances and organization. We have formed all the club structures and that is why I am very satisfied. It should be noted that we have signed as many as 11 professional contracts with our youth and cadets, because we want to provide quality and players for the future, of course in agreement with the Manager. In addition, we have signed a contract with E-Gymnasium, so our children will have excellent conditions for schooling. The football center Vujadin Boškov will have optimal conditions for everyday life, education and training, and I am happy that we have started with the realization of an idea that has existed for many years. That is a great thing, because we will no longer sell children to other clubs, and in this way we will keep the capital we create in the Youth Academy Ilija Pantelić.

Where, and when, will captain Nikola Drinčić and his teammates hone their form during the winter preparations?

– On January 14, the team will go to the old base, the Turkish summer resort of Belek, where they will have optimal working conditions. They will stay at the Susesi hotel until January 28, and on February 6, we will continue the competition in the Super League. We plan to travel to Turkey with 28 players, members of the staff, and with them will be media representatives, who will report daily on the work and atmosphere within the team.

The winter transfer window will begin soon. Will there be departures and arrivals?

– A newcomer can come to the club on the condition that someone from his position is sold beforehand, because we do not want to accumulate players. For now, we do not have specific offers for anyone from the current team, but I expect that there will be some, because Vojvodina has a lot of quality players.

Is anything happening regarding the appointment of a sports director?

– Talks with the man who will perform that function in the future are in the final phase, so I expect that the work could be completed and realized in the next day or two. Then I will be able to let the public know who it is.

Lately, there has been information that some clubs are interested in the services of coach Nenad Lalatović?

– Our coach has a contract until May 31 next year and that is my only answer.

Behind Vojvodina is a successful competition year. What goals are set for the team by the end of the season?

– It is true that we had excellent results this year and we would be very satisfied if we attack the second place in the league, that is, to get into a situation to separate Red Star and Partizan on the table. Of course, we also want to try to defend the trophy in the Serbian Cup.

The impression is that Vojvodina now has much brighter tones compared to the previous period?

– When I took office, I said I saw a light at the end of the tunnel and I was right. Yes, today the club has brighter tones, because we managed to fulfill our obligations to the players and to the state. I hope that we will stay on that path in the time to come and that in 2021 we will have many more reasons for satisfaction and joy. When I say that, I mean all of us who work in the club, players and coaches, as well as our loyal fans – said Samardžić.