On the eve of the tenth championship of Montenegro in football, which starts on Saturday, there is one curiosity - for the first time among the candidates for the title, no one seriously, but perhaps only politely, mentions Budućnost, of which literally only the name remains.
Huge debts to the state, four months of unpaid wages to players and the administration, a never-weaker playing squad - that's the picture of the once biggest Montenegrin club.
The situation in which the club finds itself is only a consequence of the long-term collapse of the club - points out Dragan Vujović, a playing legend of Budućnost, and now a member of the association Volim Budućnost, which gathers former footballers of the Blues.
"You don't need a magic wand to get out of this situation, a magic wand was needed for the club to collapse like this," says Vujović.
It seems, however, that a miracle is needed for the club to recover. Debts to the state, based on taxes, have increased, as we learn, to around two million euros. Salaries are four months late, operating expenses are barely paid, even the transportation of the first team is a problem, because the bus - almost three decades old - is out of order...
"I hear that the club owes two million euros, and I also hear that there are plans to take out a loan. I would really like to see that - how someone who has nothing will get a loan and who will grant it to him. And Buducnost, apart from players, equipment and balls, there is literally nothing," says Vujović.
The fact that Budućnost no longer has anything hurts Vujović and the former players gathered in the Volim Budućnost association. This especially applies to the stadium under Gorica, which was transferred from club ownership to municipal ownership.
"With one piece of paper, signed by our friend, probably because he was blackmailed, the stadium was transferred to the property of the Municipality, without compensation. If it weren't sad, it would be funny. And we won't just let it happen."
The association has been fighting for a long time to change that decision through the courts - says Vujović. The first hearing was held, as Vujović says, in secret. The next one is in September.
"We know that the stadium cannot be restored overnight, but we have patience. What is really amazing - the people who are formally in Buducnost, that they supposedly lead it and decide, do not want this to happen. So they do not want to help the club , which, I guess, should be their goal. It is inexplicable to common sense".
Vujović points out that he believed that the initiative to help the club would meet with the approval of the people who lead it, especially the Municipality, the majority owner. The opposite happened...
"We showed up to help, and we were greeted as enemies. From whom - from the former city sheriff, first of all, and then all the others. And those who succeeded him will continue, there are all opportunities, to do the same as he did. And they, like Mugoša, schedule secret sessions of the club assembly, which are attended by two or three people, not us, former players, who are also shareholders. But we will fight to the end to save the club".
The fight will be on all fronts and by all permitted means. Financial reports will also be combed...
"I cannot be a financial inspector, but we have people who are already doing it and who will disclose the documents. There is everything in those documents. Many people will not care when they appear in public," emphasized Vujović.
According to Vujović, the Volim Budućnost association resulted in former players receiving eight percent of the club's shares. What, however, are these actions worth in this situation - in the answer to that question lies the answer to calls that former players do not do this out of love for the club, but out of interest, Vujović points out.
"If we all shared the shares we have, we wouldn't get even 20 cents each. That's how much they're worth, and that's our interest. We're not interested in joining the club, taking over power - we're in Buducnost all our lives, on this or on that way, and we love the Future. That is our only interest".
The only club that pays a sponsor
In the situation the club is in, the results are not that important, notes Vujović. He also reminds that Buducnost didn't even play in Europe two seasons ago, not because of the results, but because of bad business and organization...
"Let Buducnost lose two or three seasons, it's not important. It's important to set up a system, for the club to get back on its feet, to get the opportunity to earn its own income. How? Well, let's say - by renting out business premises. Before it was transferred to the municipality stadium, in the contract for its construction it was stated that the club is the owner of four thousand square meters of business space. It could have a good income from that. And how the owner, that is, the Municipality, i.e. the people appointed by the Municipality, run the club, is also said by what land with an auxiliary field on Mareza was given as compensation to the sponsor, who was also a member of the Board of Directors. I have yet to hear of any club paying or returning money to the sponsor," says Vujović.
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