Mayor: Ranieri exit will not scare off bidders
Reuters - Monday 21 February 2011, 09:39
ROME - Claudio Ranieri quitting as coach
of AS Roma and violent fan unrest will not put off an American
consortium from trying to buy the indebted Serie A club, Rome
mayor Gianni Alemanno said on Monday.
The mayor has been a central figure in the drawn-out sale
process of the club, with U.S. group Di Benedetto given an
exclusive 30-day window to discuss a purchase of Roma.
Ranieri quit on Sunday following fan protests and after
eighth-placed Roma went down 4-3 at Genoa having been 3-0 up.
They also lost 3-2 at home in a Champions League first leg to
last 16 debutants Shakhtar Donetsk last week.
"I think we are talking about a consortium made up of
experts who won't be scared," Alemanno told reporters.
Roma bosses were holding a meeting with Ranieri and the
squad on Monday to decide who to appoint as coach with youth
team boss Vincenzo Montella the fans' favourite and Chelsea
coach Carlo Ancelotti long linked in the media.
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has praised Ranieri for showing
"responsibility and dignity" by resigning.