Swiss club Neuchatel Xamax owes 3.2 million francs (2.6 million euros, $3.6 million) in unpaid debt, with most of the bills dating back to after the club was taken over by Chechen Bulat Chagaev, Le Matin en Dimanche reported Sunday.
The newspaper cited an extract from the debt recovery office indicating the sum owed to 25 creditors ranging from the tax office, hotels and property agents. Most of the bills "date after May 12, the day that Bulat Chagaev took over control officially," the report claimed. Chagaev's lawyer Francois Canonica explained that the debt arose from legal cases linked to the club's former administrative staff.
"All companies have them. In our case, the opposition has not been lifted and the procedures have not moved on," he said. As for unpaid bills to suppliers, the lawyer added that these would be settled "today or tomorrow."