Parma team manager Alessandro Melli has revealed that former president Tommaso Ghirardi hurt him by insisting everything was going well at the club before the current financial crisis came to light.
The former Crociati player previously compared Ghirardi to the disgraced captain of the Costa Concordia Francesco Schettino for leaving his post in a time of need in an emotional outburst on Facebook.
“The president [Ghirardi] would say that I was seeing ghosts that weren’t there when I raised doubts,” said Melli to Bar Sport.
“I don’t feel as though he betrayed me but I do feel hurt.”
“My outburst was a spontaneous one, I wasn’t trying to make people agree with me, I believe that the people of Parma love me anyway.”
Melli also responded to those who said that his outburst came too late.
“I didn’t say anything before because I hoped in my heart that things could have changed for the better.
“I had no evidence to back up my worries. As somebody who lives in the changing room I have seen this battle being fought firsthand.
“The battle fought by the Parma players has made the institutions open their eyes, the rules must be changed.”
Melli also spoke about Alessandro Lucarelli who has been the main spokesman for the players as club captain.
“He wanted to underline that despite the €5 million promised to Parma by the league that this battle is not over.”
Melli admitted he was surprised by the departure of managing director Pietro Leonardi who he also compared to Schettino in his open letter on Facebook.
“I wasn’t expecting him to say goodbye, he said he would be back soon.
“However, the hostile environment and the effects of the situation on his health influenced his decision.”
