Svein Graff, the daily leader of Vålerenga Fotball Elite, has taken a clear stance on the club's internal culture and financial management. This follows a difficult period that culminated in the loss to Molde and the subsequent sale of three players and the sporting director.
The club's last match in the Eliteserien ended in a 3-4 defeat against Molde on August 30th. This result extended a poor run of form with just one point from the last three matches, with the recent form reading DLL. The next challenge is an away derby against Lillestrøm on September 12th, a match where the team will likely have to manage without the injured Frederik Ambina and Martin Sjoeng.
Following the defeat to Molde, which left Vålerenga two points behind the top five, the club took immediate action. Three players and the sporting director were sold. One of the key departures was Mohamed Ofkir. He was offered an improved two-year contract extension but chose instead to sign for HamKam. Svein Graff and sporting leader Johannes Moesgaard stress that this restructuring was necessary to build a new team culture.
They believe the culture must be built on simple rules that all players must follow. "Idioterklæringene hagler og betimelige spørsmål rettes mot oss i klubben," said Graff. He added that "kommunikasjon er alt!" to achieve positive change. Back in the squad is Henrik Bjørdal, who was re-signed by the club in March and is considered a key player.
The club's finances have been under pressure, with a budget deficit of 22 million Norwegian kroner. Nevertheless, the goal has always been to achieve a better result than the budget. Since relegation in 2023, there has been a noticeable improvement. Last year, Vålerenga ended with a positive result of 3 million kroner.
To manage current liquidity challenges, the club has received funds from AS and taken out temporary loans from banks. These are meant to cover needs until income from player sales comes in. The long-term strategy is to ensure positive player logistics of at least 50 million kroner after purchases and sales. Decisions on player sales are made by the transfer committee, which consists of representatives from the club's board. AS acts as financial advisors, while the sporting director and daily leader present proposals without voting rights.
With several new absences due to injuries and sales, the squad is getting thinner. Check the injuries overview for the latest status. The lack of continuity may explain the unstable form, as seen in the last three match results.
Despite the challenges, the ambition is clear: to build a team that can compete at the top of the Eliteserien. The work to establish a stronger culture and healthier finances goes hand in hand. The next test is the away match against Lillestrøm on Saturday, September 12th.
