Amidst widespread - and apparently untrue - rumours of Parma FC being 'dissolved', controversial reports have come from Italy suggesting that club President Giampietro Manenti’s company emptied their bank accounts on Thursday, according to FootballItalia.
A deadline of last Monday had been set for new funds to come into the club and, while Manenti had repeatedly promised that money would come into the club, no such funding has been forthcoming and local authorities have begun bankruptcy proceedings, with a hearing on March 19th.
Now, both TV Parma and sports paper Gazzetta dello Sport have claimed that the Slovenian bank account for Manenti’s research company, Mapi Group, was emptied out and closed on Thursday. The account had been open at the Raiffeisen Banka D.D. for almost two years, having been opened in April 2013.
Both Italian sources have also asserted that Manenti has been nowhere to be seen in the city of Parma today, and has not answered his phone.
Manenti himself has defended himself this week, insisting that he is "not crazy".
"I really do have the money," Manenti maintained to Parma Today. "I'm not crazy and I'm not bluffing. Do you really think I'd be so stupid? Just let us work. I know how pessimistic you are, but I'm not crazy.
"You can have your fun now, but once all this is sorted out, I'll tell you what has happened in these days. It is not easy to transfer such big sums from abroad, but I can guarantee that the money is there," he said.
However, legendary Argentina striker Hernán Crespo - now a youth coach at the historic Italian club - has added fuel to the flames of discontent and worry, telling of how players have only been able to train thanks to 'a favour from the gardeners'.
“It really hurts to see and live through this situation," he said to Sky Sport Italia. "We are all working just for the good of the lads and today only played because the gardeners did us a favour.
“We have cold showers because there is no electricity, so the players keep getting ill. We don’t even have guarantees for cleaning staff in the locker rooms.
“We are falling apart. We want to continue going forward, because we love this club and these lads, but it hurts to see the situation this training ground has been reduced to.
“I hope the institutions can move and save what can be saved. I’d like to see in person the financial guarantees that everyone receives wages, not just the players, but every member of Parma gets what they are owed.”
While rumours continue to circulate, particularly around Twitter, the club's future appears to remain bleak at very best. The Lega Serie A have released a statement, assuring that should the situation deteriorate into bankruptcy, all results earned so far will stand - with the rest of the club's league games being marked off as 3-0 defeats. This weekend's fixture with Udinese was cancelled due to safety concerns.