Pedro Madeira Rodrigues sets out his idea for the senior team coaching role

As part of his electoral programme presentation this week, Pedro Madeira Rodrigues announced that he plans to break ties with Jorge Jesus should he win the race for the Alvalade hotseat. The decision was taken following Jorge Jesus' inclusion in Bruno de Carvalho's Honour Commission.

"Bruno de Carvalho should not have invited him and Jesus should not have accepted it. However, that is what appears to have happened. Jesus should be focused on the team and not on the elections. The team has to be isolated from the electoral process, which is what I have been trying to get across. He chose his side and that has consequences. The immediate consequence is that Jorge Jesus will not be my coach when I enter office on the 4th of March", affirmed Madeira Marques, adding: "Jorge Jesus is a man of character and he will stand by his word. I have no doubt about that whatsoever."

To finish, the presidential candidate set out his idea for a replacement: "I will look for a coach who fits into a profile we have already identified and who can serve Sporting CP, to get the club winning again."

Bruno de Carvalho speaks in radio interview with TSF

Bruno de Carvalho spoke in an extensive radio interview with TSF this Friday, reflecting on everything from his proposals for the coming elections to how the season is shaping up on the pitch.

"Things are tough right now and we have to focus on the objective we still have. Contrary to our expectations, we have missed out in two competitions that we wanted to win. It is not true that I have an alterative to Jorge Jesus. I have said in several interviews over the last month that Jorge Jesus is my coach, even if we don't win...Like any fan, I feel frustrated, because we had other expectations for this season and things haven't gone well in terms of football. However, Sporting CP is must more than that. I don't see any other candidate speaking about the other sports we are involved in, or the profits we have been making, or the biggest ever transfers we oversaw. I don't want to belittle anyone, but I don't think a successful project should only be supported by football. Our other sports and financial restructuring are going well."

Speaking about the consequences of the recent pair of loses against Desportivo de Chaves, Bruno de Carvalho guaranteed: "We had four objectives, which have been set back to just one. That changes a lot of things. We took some gambles which did not work out, but I am not going to start pointing the finger in public. The players know perfectly well what is going on. At the start of the season we had a meeting with the coach and, independent of what happened in Chaves, we had already spoken about shrinking down the squad. The job had already been done and their is no issue in the dressing room. Our policy is that no fundamental players will leave."

Presidential candidate also sets out list for Alvalade board

The Sporting CP presidential candidate Pedro Madeira Rodrigues was in the auditorium at Estádio José Alvalade this Thursday to announce his electoral programme and the list of names who make up his team for the March the 4th elections.

"I am presenting a winning programme, which comes out of a thorough knowledge of the club where I grew up and became a man. I would also like to give a word of encouragement to our team. The current board wants to turn the players into scapegoats, but we as Sporting CP fans carry on believing in them. There is still a lot of football to play", said Madeira Rodrigues at the presentation.

The full electoral programme can be found here (Portuguese)

Pedro Madeira Rodrigues list:

President - Pedro Madeira Rodrigues
President of the General Assembly - Rui Morgado
President of the Fiscal and Disciplinary Council - Filipe Marques
List Head for Lions Council - José Moniz Pereira

Vice-President for Sports - Mário Saldanha
Vice-President for Finance - Pedro Rebelo Pinto
Vice-President for Institutional Relations - Victor Ferreira
Vice-President for Supporters' Clubs, Delgations and Affiliates - Rogério de Brito
Board Member for Club Members/Human Resources - Susana Cabral
Board Member for Organised Fan Groups - Bernardo Mendes
Board Member for Social Responsibility - Luís Figueiredo
Board Member for Marketing and Communication - João Alvim
Board Member for Club Estate - José Pedro Rodrigues
Board Member for Legal Affairs - Domingos Cruz

Alvalade president presents 111 points for his campaign

"Consolidation" is the key word of Bruno de Carvalho's election programme for this year's race for the Alvalade host seat.

A total of 111 points are included in the publication, equal to the number of years that have passed since the club's founding as of this year.

"As we said 4 years ago, Sporting CP needs a path to follow. We have done that with total conviction and we are on the right track. We are proud of the work we have done so far and we are dedicated to continue serving the club with the same effort, dedication and devotion which we have shown until now", said Bruno de Carvalho at the launch.

You can find the full programme here (Portuguese).

Carlos Severino hosts announces his support during dinner in Lisbon

Sporting CP's former director of communication and former presidential candidate, Carlos Severino, organised a dinner in Lisbon this week to announce his support for Pedro Madeira Rodrigues' bid for office.

Pedro Madeira Rodrigues arrived during Carlos Severino's dinner speech, in which the former candidate noted: "We were in a position to present our candidacy, but in the best interests of the club I am with Pedro Madeira Rodrigues for his courage in running. Three candidates would only benefit those who are in power right now. He (Madeira Rodrigues) said a lot of things I identify with me and I will support his bid."

Alvalade president names list of running mates for the club's board of directors

Sporting CP president Bruno de Carvalho announced his running list for the coming elections, under the motto: "Sporting on the Right Path | Bruno de Carvalho | President 2017"

Vicente Moura again features as vice-president for sports, with Carlos Vieira for finance and António Rebelo again for Members, in addition to communication, expansion, Supporters' Clubs and marketing.

In relation to the other board members included, Rui Caeiro and Luís Gestas are again included for sports, in addition to Bruno Mascarenhas for Supporters' Clubs, José Quintela for communication and Alexandre Godinho for estate management. The new face is Luís Loureiro, strengthening communication. Jorge Sanches and Rita Matos are again in the list as substitutes.

In a statement on his official Facebook pace, Bruno de Carvalho reaffirmed his confidence in his team: "The team is united, cohesive and has turned in results which we are all proud of, so there is no need to make changes. This is my list for the Sporting Clube de Portugal board of directors. Every one of the names is a synonym for competency, confidence and above all else Effort, Dedication, Devotion and Glory. I know what I want: to carry on the Right Path. I also know that these are the right people for us to consolidate and grow even more."

Alvalade leader looking to renew his 2013 mandate

The president of Sporting Clube de Portugal, Bruno de Carvalho, announced on the 29th of December his intention to run for office again in the 4th of March 2017 elections.

Here is what the Alvalade boss said on his official Facebook page:

"I have decided to follow through with my intention, which I did not at any point deny, to again put myself forward as a candidate as president of Sporting Clube de Portugal, after a period of reflection. We are proud of what we have done and we have identified what we still want to do, after also looking at the other candidacy which has been presented and bearing in mind other possible projects. That, on top of hearing the encouraging words of thousands of fans in recent days.

"When I arrived at Sporting CP, in the circumstances that we all know about, the club was in a very difficult situation in economic and financial terms. We undertaken the necessary financial restructuring, recognised by everyone one as success, bringing back our external credibility. We have begun building the long desired João Rocha Arena, which we will open on the first quarter of 2017, bringing back all sports to Alvalade. We have gone beyond the 150,000 members milestone and we want to break into the top 3 clubs in the world in terms of numbers of members. We have brought back more fans to Estádio José Alvalade, achieving an average attendance of more than 40,000 spectators. Our youth teams, on all levels, are stronger. Both SAD and the club have turned over their best ever profits. We have claimed victories in football, recovering from Sporting CP's worst finish ever to win the Portuguese Cup and Supercup. In other sports, we have won various titles, including two European trophies. We are building quality squads in every sport. In the last transfer window, we made the two biggest ever sales in the club's history, one of which was the biggest ever price for a Portuguese player playing in Portugal. All of that, together with the opening of Sporting TV.

There is still a lot to do and during this period of reflection I have identified not only what has not gone so well, but also those things which we could have done better and which have to be improved.

I am doing this for the club I love and which I always will. I have worked 24 hours a day for the past 4 years to serve Sporting CP and I will continue to do so while I am here. The next few years a crucial for consolidating what we have done over the last four. Going back now would be fatal for our club. It is an honour and a privilege to be the president of our club. Considering the work which we are doing day in day out, I ask you to understand that the club cannot come to a halt just because the electoral period has begun. The board and our governing bodies have been given a mandate by the club's members to work, not to go on election campaigns. Respect must come from everybody. Let's make this election an example of democracy, so that we don't give our adversaries the chance to degrade us.

Viva Sporting Clube de Portugal!!!"

General Assembly President Jaime Marta Soares officially announces election date

The president of Sporting CP's General Assembly, Jaime Marta Soares, officially announced this Wednesday that the 2017 presidential elections will take place on the 4th of March.

"The election period has begun and, as president of the General Assembly, I hope that this is a manifestation of the vitality of Sporting and that campaigning happens with a spirit of elevation, respect and dignity. I hope the candidates discuss based on the best interests of Sporting CP. Individualism is not a good posture to take. I am looking for a campaign without personal attaches and that each project be discussed clearly. Portugal, not just Sporting CP's fans, will be watching us and in light of the vital sports and cultural importance of the club, it is vitally important that we respect the values of sport. I am hoping to see many people turn out to vote."

President Bruno de Carvalho fires the starting gun for the March 2017 presidential race

President Bruno de Carvalho called a press conference this Wednesday, in which he guaranteed that any presidential candidates will have time with the club's communication channels, before highlighting the importance of showing respect for all supporters: "The Sporting Journal and Sporting TV wil give coverage to any candidate. That is what is needed. Anybody that loves this club and has a project to present deserves to be here and can present here. As president, I am speaking now because the electoral campaigns have begun. I welcome Pedro Madeira Rodrigues (1st official candidate) and promise that this process will be done in a transparent and open way. This club honours democracy and I ask everyone to stand out from the current state of national sport."

Former Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry general secretary officially announces candidacy

Pedro Madeira Rodrigues is the first official candidate for the March 2017 presidential elections.

Noting the reasons for his candidacy, Madeira Rodrigues said: "It is through a drive to discuss the future of the club and an idea that was put forward by people who contacted me, wanting an alterative to the current management of the club." The candidate went on to sent a message to who he sees as his president: "I am hoping for respect, because we are both Sporting fans. Bruno de Carvalho was really important for breaking away from the dynasty that was eating away at us from the inside. This is an open candidacy to everyone. I guarantee rigor in all signings and in financial stability going forward into the future."

Asked is Jorge Jesus would be his coach of choice, Madeira Rodrigues affirmed: "I will do everything I can to make sure I don't damage the football team and I believe we can still win the league with Jorge Jesus."

Pedro Madeira Rodrigues finished with a word on any eventual competition: "It will only help Bruno de Carvalho, as it will divide the vote. I would like to take this opportunity to ask you to join me."