Lleida’s Atlètic Lleida says it expects to play at Camp d'Esports next season and is considering using the name and crest of UE Lleida, which it acquired in April.
President Xavier Bartolo said on Thursday that the club has several options and has not yet decided what will happen with the symbols. He said supporters should not worry and that the club will make good use of them.
Bartolo also said Atlètic Lleida is working with the city council to finalise a four-year shared use agreement for Camp d'Esports. He said the deal would change the situation significantly, with the council responsible for maintenance of the stadium and its annex.
The club wants to avoid a repeat of last season, when it said requests for the pitch to be kept in good condition were not met. Bartolo said the team will try to be among the top five budgets in Tercera RFEF as it prepares for a difficult campaign and aims to keep promotion in reach.
Atlètic Lleida plans to launch its season ticket campaign in the last week of June, if there are no setbacks. The club will return to Camp d'Esports next year after playing at Farrús last season.
The announcement comes amid a public dispute between Bartolo and Marc Torres. Bartolo criticised Torres in response to comments about the club, while Torres had accused Bartolo of incompetence and said several incidents were contributing to tension around football in Lleida.
Atlètic Lleida also said it is open to helping other clubs. Bartolo said the club is willing to speak with any club that wants to talk, and noted that Borges members have already approved an affiliation agreement that must be completed by 30 June. For more local football coverage, see our news page.
