Hapoel Raanana recorded another relegation yesterday (Friday), this time to the first division, after absorbing a dramatic 2: 1 from Hapoel Rishon LeZion in the final round of the national league. The one who moves aside and was not involved on a daily basis in what is happening in the group is the owner Asher Alon.
Now following the decline, ONE has learned that Alon, who has been focused on his thriving businesses for the past two years, intends to return and be more involved in what is happening in the group. The club had a player salary in the national league that is considered high, about NIS 3.600 million with a total budget of about NIS 8 million, with Alon serving as a sponsor and taking care of the team financially in all that was required, but was not involved in daily decisions.
The team, which had previously been in the Premier League for seven years failed to bring in an audience, does not have a home ground and that has hit it hard. Now because of the feeling that he has a debt to the local community in Raanana, it is said that Alon will return towards next season to be as involved in the team as he was in the past in order to try to bring it back to the national league.
What is clear is that the team will return to play on the home field in Raanana, which will have to make the adjustments. It is still unclear whether CEO Gil Cooper will continue in the team, when in the first division the team will not be able to continue to pay him what he has earned so far. Raanana wants him to continue, but this is currently uncertain.
The one who will lose as a result of the relegation is the director of the football leagues in which Alon served as chairman of the finance committee, and following the relegation he will end his position.
Alon was very active in the administration, especially in the whole issue of broadcast tenders and more than once stood his ground in favor of football, when over the years there was an attempt to sell the tender for a very relatively small amount. Alon and a few other friends who objected resulted in football eventually receiving a very large monetary addition.