According to the Volleyball Association, the club did not fulfill its financial obligations under the league license agreement.
Anu Karttunen,
Matti Lehtisaari,
STT Sports
15.3. 14:22 • Updated March 15 17:21
The Volleyball Championship League will exclude Ettan from Oulu from the men’s main series, the Volleyball Association informs. According to a volleyball association bulletin, the club did not meet its financial obligations under the league licensing agreement.
Champions League leader Riga Martinoja told STT that the financial obligations associated with the league license apply to the arbitrators’ fees. Those that have failed to pay this season.
The regular season of the Men’s Championship League ended on Sunday. The ninth-placed Etta did not reach the playoffs.
Etta says in a press release on Twitter that the club will give up its place in the men’s championship league and play in the men’s first series next season.
The difficult season ended sadly
Head coach of the club Olli Kuoksa told Sports that he heard about the decision at ten in the morning.
– It’s sad that the main series volleyball from Oulu will end at least for a while. There was a tough fight for the series, then the club didn’t have enough to hold it, so it’s annoying, Kuoksa, who was reached by phone, said.
That season has been hard. Already from the beginning of the season, the team was deprived of points for a foul, as it had played an unplayable player. In December, both of Ettan’s foreign players left the team and the team suffered a shortage of crew. The people of Oulu had their long losing streak and their game run so well that the team was ninth in the regular season.
– We have to be happy for the team, how we did the job on the field. That is my and our job and we mastered it well. Good that the season is coming to an end, Kuoksa sighed.
According to the club, the coronavirus pandemic has hampered operations, as the club has generally received revenue from trade fairs and sports events as well as restaurant operations.
– Extremely difficult times and many adversities have plagued the organization for several seasons, so Etta will have to make a difficult decision to give up its position at the main level of domestic volleyball, the club says.
Ettan’s goal is to ensure the continued operation of the club. Etta wants to develop young players in the Oulu region to the league level.
The winner of the first series can apply for a place in the Champions League
The championship league also decided not to play in the men’s league qualifiers, so TuTo Volley from Turku and Perungat Pojat from Rovaniemi will retain their league place. PerPo was last in the men’s championship league, TuTo Volley was last.
The winner of the first series can apply for a place in the Champions League for next season.
Head coach Kuoksa can’t say what Ettan’s future is. In his opinion, however, there is a strong junior activity in the Oulu region, and the situation of the representative team does not affect it.
– Of course, the role model team left the league, but if it is soon recovered, it will not hurt, Kuoksa said, and did not rule out the idea that he would continue in the community himself.
– I’m a professional coach, I have to work. Now I have to think a little bit about how to proceed. I will definitely coach next year too, but I don’t know how and where. It is not ruled out that I would continue here.
The playoffs of the men’s championship league will start on Wednesday in the semi-finals with Tigers – Hurricane, Savo Volley – Vantaa Ducks, Akaa-Volley – Raisio Loimu and VaLePa – Karelian Hurmos. The semi-finals advance with three wins.
Update at 16.00: Added information about referee fees and Olli Kuoksan’s tweet.
Updated at 4:57 PM: Added comments by Olli Kuoksan.