Savon Sanomat reports that the Kuopio Palloseura has revealed problems with the improper use of CEO Jarmo Heiskanen and his management style and alcohol use. According to Heiskanen, a chase is underway against him.
Savon Sanomat has interviewed nine people who have been or are involved in KuPS’s operations in a story about Heiskanen’s operations.
The people interviewed by the magazine cannot understand why inappropriate management has continued at KuPS Oy for years, even though the Finnish Football Association has launched a campaign to eradicate inappropriate behavior and harassment from club activities and the chairman of the Football Association Ari Lahti is also a long – term majority owner of KuPS Oy. According to Savon Sanomat, at a club meeting in April, Lahti stated that it is the duty of club leaders to eradicate bad behavior, and no one should escape responsibility.
Ari Lahti did not want to comment on this to Savon Sanomat.
According to Savon Sanomat, KuPS Oy’s previous board of directors investigated Heiskanen’s operations after receiving worrying messages about it. According to the magazine, this is why about twenty people involved in KuPS’s operations were interviewed, and in connection with this, several grievances related to Heiskane were raised.
KuPS Oy appointed a new Board of Directors last September and all Board members changed at once. According to Savon Sanomat, the old board had reported extensively to Lahti about problems with Heiskanen’s operations and wanted to change the CEO, but according to the newspaper, Lahti did not agree. Board members subsequently announced that they were no longer available.
Heiskanen’s management style was described as involving, among other things, intimidation and inappropriate use of language. Financial management was described as lax. In addition, problems with alcohol use emerged.
The resigned members of the Board did not want to comment on the reasons for the resignation to Savon Sanomat. Former Chairman of the Board Antti Haapakorva Savon Sanomat briefly commented on the excessive differences in views in the company’s management.
KuPS Oy has the men’s and women’s representative teams in the Veikkausliiga and the National League, as well as the men’s and women’s academy teams. Junior activities are run by KuPS ry. According to Savon Sanomat, the board of the association tried to intervene in Heiskanen’s position this spring by writing about Kuiskanen’s current board of directors and Ari Lahti about Heiskanen’s reprehensible activities.
Chairman of the Board of KuPS ry Eija Vähälä confirms to Savon Sanomat that the letter has been sent. According to Vähälä, the members of the board had long considered sending an official letter.
– As part of the KuPS family, we wanted to express our concern. Now only the measure was full. We also have to think about KuPS juniors and their families, Vähälä tells Savon Sanomat.
According to Vähälä, KuPS Oy’s Board of Directors has not yet responded to the contact.
Jarmo Heiskanen denies Savon Sanomat that he has or would have had problems with alcohol. He says a chase is going on against him.
– There are forces that would have liked to change me from the position of CEO and certainly still are. When it has not been successful through official channels, attempts are made to blacken me in public and put pressure on me to dismiss me, Heiskanen comments to the magazine.
KuPS published the story of Savon Sanomat on its website after it was published newsletter (you switch to another service), according to which Kuopion Palloseura Oy ‘s players, coaching and office employees present their support to CEO Jarmo Heiskanen. The players of the men’s and women’s representative teams say in the press release they appreciate Heiskanen’s work and the coaching teams are very sorry about the allegations made.
– The allegations made in the story do not appear in any way in the daily life of the team. CEO Jarmo Heiskanen has been creating excellent opportunities to compete and succeed, the coaching team said in a joint statement.