Shenhua move to Kunming seems a matter of time
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, December 10, 2013
Shanghai Shenhua FC's managing company registered a full-investment branch company in Kunming recently, stoking more speculation that the city's most popular Chinese Super League club would move to Yunnan Province next season.
Xu Wei, deputy general manager of Shanghai Shenhua Liansheng FC Co Ltd, confirmed to Soccer News on Sunday that the new company registered in Kunming was named Yunnan Shenhua Liansheng FC Co Ltd.
According to China Football Association regulations, if a club wants to shift base to another city, the managing company has to register with the new city's industry and commerce department. Xu said the company has passed related evaluations and the application was expected to be approved within a few days.
Earlier reports suggested that Shenhua might move the team and its home stadium to Kunming, capital of Yunnan, after the 20-year-old club encountered financial problems in the middle of last season, which led to delays in salary payments.
However, Shenhua spokesman Ma Yue, speaking to Shanghai Daily yesterday, refused to confirm the move, claiming that the two-decade brand "Shenhua" has become a sporting icon for the city and any possible shift would draw the attention of many sections of local society.
Today marks the 20th anniversary of Shanghai Shenhua. Team members, including some former players, will attend a gathering at the club's Kangqiao training camp in Pudong.
Ma revealed that the players have returned from their off-season break and they will head to Kunming on Saturday for routine training which will last for a month.
Deputy general manager Xu said the registration of the branch company was just an early stage preparation, given the possibility of the club moving.
Chinese clubs are required to register at local football associations before December 5 to take part in next year's matches. Xu said that CFA had extended the deadline following their request and the club now has more time to prepare documents needed for the registration.
Shanghai Shenhua FC was established in 1993. "Shenhua" literally means "Shanghai flower", and the club's name has been used for two decades despite changes in the club's ownership. The managing company, Shanghai Shenhua Liansheng FC Co Ltd, was renamed from Shanghai Shenhua SVA FC Co Ltd in 2008.
The CSL side — one of three Shanghai teams in the top tier last season — finished eighth in the 16-team league in 2013, starting the season with minus six points due to a match-fixing scandal back in 2003. The title it won in 2003 was also taken back, leaving the 1994 triumph as the club's only championship in China's top league.
An earlier Soccer News report claimed that the club's financial woes were eased after a Yunnan-based firm agreed to bail it out with an investment of 30 million yuan (US$4.936 million). In return, it demanded Shenhua consider shifting base to Kunming for three years.
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