Crvena Zvezda president on team's budget, roster changes, relationship with Partizan / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Marko Metlas/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Credit Marko Metlas/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images

Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade president Nebojsa Covic was a guest on Sportal.rs portal and talked about the current situation in the Serbian club, the team's transfer targets on the market and former Red Star coach Dejan Radonjic.

Points this season

45%73,8Points made:73,8Accuracy:45,4%Place in standings:15Record max:98Record min:57Best scorer:Nikola KalinicTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

"The situation in Red Star is good. We didn't fall apart as many hoped we would. The staff and team are being prepared, and financial projections are being made.

Every new season is challenging for us from a financial point of view, despite the fact that we are called the state's ATM, and we have seen from tax debts who in fact is the state's ATM," Nebojsa Covic pointed out.

The inevitable question was also related to former coach Dejan Radonjic, who left the Serbian capital and the ABA League champs on the last day of June for Athens and Panathinaikos OPAP.

"Why Dejan Radonjic left is not a question for me but for him. However, everything that starts must end. His contract expired on June 30, and we didn't want to go deep into the month of July with the coaching issue unresolved.

The club only came out with the announcement that the contract expires on that date, and it's simply incredible what kind of comments appeared on social media. I'm sorry that I won't be able to share any bad news because there wasn't any," Covic commented.

Eventually, Zvezda picked Vladimir Jovanovic to lead the team through the 2022-23 season, but other options had also been considered before the final decision was made. Among them, Dusan Alimpijevic, who led Bursaspor to the EuroCup final game, after eliminating Partizan Belgrade on the road.

Alimpijevic, now 36, had coached Zvezda in the 2017-18 season, when the Belgrade team failed to win any trophies. Their EuroLeague run ended with a 11-19 record and they were also unable to defend their ABA League title, losing 1-3 to Buducnost in the final series.

"We decided that Vlada Jovanovic, who for many years was in the system of both Zvezda and FMP, would become the coach. Many people asked me why Dusan Alimpijevic did not become the coach, and everyone also forgot what was done to that young coach after the unfortunate defeat in Podgorica in a match played under incredible pressure."

So far, Zvezda have signed Nemanja Nedovic, Hassan Martin and John Holland, in addition to renewing their partnership with captain Branko Lazic for two more seasons. When asked about the current roster and the players who came and left, the president of Red Star said:

"Two local players left us, Nikola Kalinic and Dejan Davidovac. A native player, Nemanja Nedovic, came in. Three foreign players left, two came. Maybe we'll have a point guard, maybe a center, maybe a naturalized Montenegrin, some players from Valencia are interesting to us," Covic pointed out.

He further revealed that Serbian players (Montenegrin Nikola Ivanovic included) will again be the majority on the roster which will also comprise "four or five foreigners."

In recent days, there have been many reports and rumors about a large number of players that the Serbian and ABA League champions are allegedly interested in. Shabazz Napier, Dalibor Ilic, Pierria Henry, Marial Shayok, Greg Monroe, Chris Singleton are among the names.

"All of them are interesting, but we can't bring them all," was Covic's enigmatic reply.

The 64-year-old former Deputy PM of Serbia and Belgrade mayor, referred to Partizan's EuroLeague participation next season, emphasizing that tensions between the two sides will simmer unabated.

"I congratulate Partizan on being invited to the Euroleague. I am also glad that they will also play in the elite because we advocated for it. Unfortunately, I think that the fact that we have two clubs in the elite will not reduce tensions. Such a thing requires the reaction of state authorities."

Covic appeared confident that in order for Zvezda to become more competitive, a bigger budget and more quality players are needed.

"When there is a bigger budget based on a sound foundation, the results will come. Our budget will be around 9.5 million (euros), but we will try to increase it. If we succeed, maybe it will reach 12 million.

Now, my 12th season in Zvezda begins, and we never once had a complete budget at the start. Mostly it went from 30 to 50%. Of course, that money arrives gradually."

However, Covic held no punches when the subject was his relationship with Partizan's management and Serbian Basketball Federation members.

"With the people from Partizan, I have the relationship they deserve. What kind of relationship should I have with those who insult my wife and son?" Covic asked.

"I have no agreement with the people from the Serbian Federation. The only thing we agree on is the arrival of (Svetislav) Pesic," he said.

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