Vitoria Setubal players guarantee commitment despite wages in arrears

Robson: “Top flight survival first – financial issues afterwards”

A familiar tale of financial hardship has come to the fore at Vitoria Setubal. It has emerged that the historical Portuguese club has not paid its squad for three months. 

After a fabulous season last year, when the club won the inaugural Carlsberg Cup and finished in sixth place, the club’s fortunes have been very different in 2008/09. Setubal are currently languishing in joint bottom place in the Liga Sagres, and were on the wrong end of a 5-1 thrashing at Maritimo on Sunday.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, three months have now passed since the players last saw the colour of money from their employers. But speaking on behalf of the squad, Robson believes the situation will soon be resolved.

“Today (Tuesday) several issues were discussed that brought relief to some players, myself included. We believe what we have been told.

“First of all we are going to try and get out of the uncomfortable position we are in as regards the standings, and then we will try and resolve the financial question,” explained Robson after today’s training session.

Robson added that he and his team-mates were hopeful of turning around the side’s poor form that has seen Setubal win just two of their last 15 matches, starting with this weekend’s encounter at home against high-flying Nacional.

By Tom Kundert