Soccer: Fiorentina up for sale (3)

(ANSA) - Florence, June 26 - Serie A soccer club Fiorentina is up for sale, owners Diego and Andrea Della Valle decided Monday. A statement on the Florentine club's website said: "the owners of ACF Fiorentina communicate that they are absolutely ready, given the dissatisfaction of some of the fans, to step aside and put the club at the disposal of whoever wants to buy it to then run it as they see fit". Chairman Andrea Della Valle and his brother Diego, the Tod's shoe magnate, have frequently chafed at fan protests about how the two-time Serie A winners have been run.
    Fiorentina finished last season eighth in Serie A.
    The statement went on: "Now is the time for those who love the Viola shirt and believe that the club can be run differently and with greater success, to come forward.
    "The owners are ready to accept concrete offers, obviously only from those who really love the Viola shirt and have the seriousness and solidity indispensable to lead a top club like Fiorentina. "If, as we expect and hope, there is a project by 'real Florentines', they will find the utmost availability and readiness on the part of the owners, as umpteenth proof of respect towards Fiorentina and the city of Florence.
    "The club will meanwhile be run with attention and competence by its managers, who have all the necessary esteem of the owners and who, as always, will work with the utmost commitment possible".
    photo: Chairman Andrea Della Valle