Why did Erden Timur leave Galatasaray? Fatih Altaylı explains

Journalist Fatih Altaylı has revealed the behind-the-scenes details of the process leading to the departure of Galatasaray Sportif A.Ş. Deputy Chairman Erden Timur from the team.

Here is Fatih Altaylı's article:

The revelation that Erden Timur would not be part of the football organization during Dursun Özbek's third term as president at Galatasaray—or, to put it more accurately, that he would not be on the board of Galatasaray Sportif A.Ş.—has sent shockwaves through the fans and the community.

This is because Erden Timur was the most important figure behind Galatasaray's two consecutive championships.

As soon as the Özbek administration was formed, they appointed Timur as deputy chairman of Sportif A.Ş. Timur then rebuilt the team that had finished 13th in the league just a year prior, created a dream team, and pulled off transfers that were deemed impossible—all while achieving this in a year when the club recorded its lowest revenue in history.

Furthermore, it was Erden Timur who conceived, developed, and concretized the Florya Project during the Burak Elmas era. He was pursuing initiatives that would also provide financial relief to Galatasaray.

A miracle had been created in a short time, and the person who saw this best was Ali Koç, the president of the rival club.

Ali Koç hated Timur so much and viewed him as such an obstacle that he attacked Erden Timur in every statement he made, attempting to neutralize his rival by disrupting the private business affairs of a rival team executive in a way never before seen in the history of Turkish football.

According to Koç, the way to break Galatasaray was to break Timur.

Ali Koç was trying to sabotage Erden Timur's business ventures using the power of the Koç Group, of which he is a major shareholder.

However, it was not Ali Koç's attacks that drove Erden Timur away from Galatasaray.

I had said weeks ago that Timur would not be in the new term because I knew the reason why.

What distanced Erden Timur from the Galatasaray administration was not the attacks from the rival president, but the attacks coming from within his own club.

First, a group within the club began making criticisms regarding Timur.

Then, it became clear that some names within the board of directors were behind these criticisms.

Initially, President Özbek maintained a stance of protecting Erden Timur against internal attacks.

However, after a while, he too joined those criticizing Timur.

A group within the club, including executives and even the president himself, began spreading negative rumors about Erden Timur.

I cannot say whether these were true or not, but they were ugly accusations, and they were reaching Erden Timur's ears.

However, he turned a deaf ear to them in order not to disrupt the harmony in the team and not to please rivals on the path to the championship.

He posed for photos with the president, but he also knew the truth.

The club's board of directors was not behind him.

What is interesting is that President Özbek was both part of the chorus criticizing Timur and, at the same time, wanted Timur to remain in the administration.

Before the election, he offered the young boss of NEF Construction a place on the board. Timur politely declined.

Upon this, he said, "At least stay on the board of Sportif A.Ş."

Timur declined that as well.

He did not want to share a fate with a staff that made ugly accusations against him.

That is why he said, "I am out."

President Dursun Özbek even asked people he thought would have influence over Erden Timur to "please convince him."

However, Timur gave the same answer to everyone:

"It is impossible for me to be in a place where I am being slandered this much."

And as of the moment I am writing this article, there has been no change in his position.

Like every Galatasaray fan, I say, "I wish he had stayed."

But I also know that it will not happen.

News Source: 12punto