JEDDAH, 15 September 2007 — A number of honorary members at Al-Ittihad club took issue with club president Mansour Al-Balawi over his unilateral decisions including the Talal Al-Mishal deal.
Abdul Mohsin Al-Alshaikh, Prince Talal ibn Mansour and Prince Khaled ibn Fahd were deeply disappointed at Al-Balawi for breaking an agreement to consult with the honorary members before making major decisions.
They were particularly incensed Al-Balawi signed former Ahli striker Mishal from Qatari club Almeraikya without first getting their approval.
A source at Ittihad said Al-Balawi’s wanton disregard of procedures prompted contributors at the club to complain it was not his own money Al-Balawi was spending, and that they were bothered all the more because Al-Balawi is up for reelection.
If Al-Balawi gets reelected and he continues to run Ittihad like it were his own, the interests of the club would be greatly compromised, they said.
In a related development, rumors were making the rounds at Ittihad club that the former Ahli coach Nebusha might be leading Ittihad as a coach instead of the current one. A deal was said to have been struck for the Serbian coach to head the team for one year and to renew the contract if he was successful with the club.
