Sadettin Saran: I am here to no longer allow hopelessness

The Ordinary Elective General Assembly Meeting of Fenerbahçe Sports Club is being held at the Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Sports Complex. On the first day of the election, following the discussion of the agenda items, the speeches of the presidential candidates began. Fenerbahçe presidential candidate Sadettin Saran descended from the protocol tribune to the field amidst intense support and took the podium.

Starting his speech by celebrating World Fenerbahçe Women's Day, Saran said, "I would like to make a small contribution to those speaking in favor of the current administration here. When I withdrew in your favor 1.5 years ago, I was the most valuable man in the world. I was not a traitor. You even offered me a management position. You told me you would be grateful to me for life. Did I become a traitor only when I became a rival? While I was giving a statement to Zekeriya Öz at the State Security Court (DGM), you were watching matches with them in the luxury box. I say that this is the clearest historical example of insincerity and hypocrisy. I do not want to tire Fenerbahçe fans with excuses. Because your excuses never end. We are heading to a historic election tomorrow."

Our club's president will be determined by the votes of you, our esteemed members. I believe that whoever emerges from the ballot boxes, we will start a total struggle together for Fenerbahçe's hope-filled championships, without saying 'me' or 'you'. I have conducted an unprecedented election campaign during this process. If I have said anything hurtful in the election atmosphere, I apologize in the presence of everyone. Because I believe that this community should fight against its rivals, not against each other. First of all, I would like to thank Hakan Bilal Kutlualp and his team.

They did not remain spectators to the unhappiness experienced by the community. Regardless of the outcome of this congress, our Fenerbahçe must grow brotherhood, not hostility.

We may think differently, but we are passionately attached to the same colors and the same crest. If my name and my team's name emerge from the ballot boxes tomorrow, I promise; I will do my utmost to unite Fenerbahçe fans, presidents, and legends into a single front, and to walk into the future together with our Fenerbahçe behind us. I became a candidate because I believe in a change of leadership at Fenerbahçe Sports Club. I set out on this path because I gave my word to myself and to you. We, as Fenerbahçe fans, have never been hopeless. Our history is full of moments where we stood back up, no matter the circumstances. I am here to no longer allow hopelessness," he said.

"THE COMMUNITY'S BIGGEST GOAL IS THE CHAMPIONSHIP"

Promising the yellow-navy congress members, Saran said, "If I win the election tomorrow, I give my word on my honor and dignity that when the day comes, I will carry out this change of leadership in the most correct and best way. Mr. Ali Koç has done very important work for our Fenerbahçe. It would be unfair to deny the financial support he has provided to our club to date. Beyond the money he gave from his own pocket, he signed sponsorship deals that brought in revenue. But the fate of Fenerbahçe cannot be reduced to the money given from one person's pocket. Just as our club needed change in 2018, it needs change today. If I win the election, I will close the aforementioned company that belongs to me. I won't even blink. Let all Fenerbahçe fans be at ease. I will not do anything that would harm our Fenerbahçe. This community is not used to presidents who keep their word. You will get to know me; we are just getting started. A president who manages the millions of this club must have a legacy much more important than money. To unite its community, to manage the club entrusted to it correctly, and most importantly, to bring a championship in football. The biggest expectation and the biggest goal of this community is the championship," he stated.

"FENERBAHÇE WILL NOT BE LEFT ALONE AT THE TABLE OR ON THE FIELD"

Criticizing the current management, Sadettin Saran said, "You constantly changed coaches, made transfer plans based on completely different needs every season, and turned to last-minute, hasty transfers; you changed 11 coaches in 7 years. You made over 100 transfers. You said you would not use July 3rd as an excuse. But you did so at every opportunity to divide the community. On April 2nd, right here, you ignored the decision of over 20,000 congress members and made a reverse decision. You talked about collective wisdom, but you did not listen to anyone who offered ideas, put thought into Fenerbahçe, or made suggestions."

You said you would be accountable to the community, but you were afraid of yourselves. You convinced the team, its coach, and its players, who were marching toward the championship, that they could not be champions. Know that this team is not because of the coaches and players you chose; you call it a new adventure for those who set out for Fenerbahçe; I would not call it that. What I would actually call an adventure is expecting a championship from a management that has not been able to win one for 7 years."

During the Alanyaspor match, a theater was staged once again before the eyes of all of Turkey. Another blow was dealt to the labor and sweat of our Fenerbahçe. The names change, but the operations do not. I will not reduce this to names here by mentioning the MHK, TFF, or committees. These operations against Fenerbahçe are not a weekly agenda. And they are certainly not an election agenda."

It is the result of a systematic process that has been going on for years. Do not forget, the fact that this operation took place in a postponed match days before the election cannot be described as interference in the congress. This picture is independent of the elections. Regarding the aftermath of the incident, I spoke with President Ali Koç and stated that we must do whatever is necessary. Have no doubt, whoever the president of this club is tomorrow, Fenerbahçe will never be left alone, neither at the table nor on the field," he said.

Pointing out that the yellow-navy fans have always made sacrifices, Saran said they would establish correct communication with football intelligence in both the infrastructure and the superstructure. Saran said, "I am not asking for a blank check from you. This club should no longer be a burden on one person's pocket, but on the shoulders of the community. You said 'be happy,' and we became hope. We bought jerseys, we bought tickets. We exhausted the season tickets. Even in the period when we were most economically challenged, we did not withdraw our support from this club. That is why I will not be a president who asks for sacrifices from his fans again. Our plan and program are ready. We have done our homework; we aspired to this duty with the understanding of 'the right person for the job,' not 'a job for the person.' If I win the election, we will increase the number of season tickets in our stadium to 40,000. We are candidates to manage Fenerbahçe. We will increase our sponsorships and revenue items with new projects. We will make a difference with better football intelligence, more decisive and correct communication in both the infrastructure and the superstructure. We will establish a fairer relationship with our fans. What we want today is clear: to win again. Fenerbahçe should be managed with a financial structure that plans for the future, not one that just saves the day," he said.

"IF I CANNOT BE CHAMPION, I WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE"

Stating that the upcoming election will be one where it is decided whether Fenerbahçe will be champion or not, Saran said the following:

"This is not just a financial understanding, but also a change in management philosophy. Until Fenerbahçe is champion, there is no vacation, no holiday, no celebration. When we finally become champions, we will lift that trophy together with all our living presidents and council presidents as a symbol of the Fenerbahçe spirit of the Kadıköy hell where we stood back up, the Fenerbahçe glory we reminded all of Turkey of, and our unity and solidarity. If I cannot be champion, I will not be a candidate in the 2027 ordinary congress. We will work day and night. This election is not one to be decided by looking at a single match or a single transfer. It is an election where we will decide whether Fenerbahçe will be champion or not. If the best coaches and the best transfers have come for 7 years and the championship has not arrived, the problem is not on the field. It is in the management's mind. This election is the biggest promise we will make together for the development of Fenerbahçe."