Lleida club Atlètic Lleida will play its home matches at Camp d'Esports next season, according to president Xavier Bartolo. He also said the club may use the historic UE Lleida name and crest in future, symbols Atlètic Lleida acquired in April.
Bartolo said that, “if nothing extraordinary happens”, the Cappont club will be based at Camp d'Esports. He added that the club holds the UE Lleida symbols and will decide later whether to take another step. He also raised the idea of letting the public have a say on their future.
The club is working with Lleida City Council on a four-year shared use agreement for Camp d'Esports. Bartolo said the deal would “drastically change the scenario”, because the council would take on maintenance of the stadium and its annex. The aim is to avoid a repeat of last season, when the pitch did not meet the required conditions.
Atlètic Lleida will return to Camp d'Esports after finishing the previous season at Farrús. Bartolo did not set out what would happen with the UE Lleida crest and name, but said supporters “should not worry” and that the club would make “good use” of them. He said he would like football people in Lleida to decide whether the symbols should remain untouched and honoured, or be recovered if there is an important project.
On the sporting side, Bartolo said the club will try to be among the top five budgets in Tercera RFEF, a category he described as difficult. The target is to finish the season with promotion options. He also said, unless there are setbacks, the season ticket campaign should begin in the last week of June.
Bartolo also spoke about tensions with Marc Torres, who accused him of incompetence and ignorance, and criticised several episodes involving Lleida football. Separately, Atlètic Lleida is considering an affiliation agreement with Borges, which Borges members have already approved at board level and which must be finalised before 30 June.
