Industry, identity and scale
During Włókniarz Częstochowa’s press conference on Thursday, the situation changed as quickly as images in a kaleidoscope. The club had already prepared an agreement with a title sponsor and intended to introduce the company to journalists. However, just two hours before the conference, the sponsor unexpectedly withdrew. At the last moment, another company stepped in — DOSPEL, a well-known Częstochowa-based manufacturer.
According to Alfred Hitchcock, a good film should begin with an earthquake, after which the tension should continue to rise. That was precisely the scenario experienced by journalists attending Thursday’s press conference at the headquarters of Włókniarz Częstochowa, where an agreement with the club’s title sponsor for the 2012 season was due to be signed.
It began with an earthquake. Paweł Mizgalski, President of Włókniarz Częstochowa, was visibly nervous when he informed those present that the planned agreement with Jurajski Dom Brokerski — the same company that supported Skra Częstochowa — would not be signed.
Paweł Mizgalski: We wanted to prepare a special Easter surprise for Włókniarz supporters. For two months, we had been holding intensive discussions with a number of companies. We were also contacted by Sebastian Boguś, the owner of the Jurajski Dom Brokerski brand.
During the final week and a half, we conducted extremely intensive negotiations. In the course of those discussions, the terms were agreed twice — and I want to emphasise that they were agreed twice — with the agreement confirmed by a handshake.
Despite this, the agreement was not signed. At approximately noon, JDB sent the club an offer that differed substantially from the terms previously agreed.
Paweł Mizgalski: The proposal contained an amount that was disrespectful to a strong and established brand such as CKM Włókniarz. We had already taken concrete steps. The name and logo of the intended title sponsor had been placed on the riders’ racing suits and printed on tickets for our first home meeting of the season against Polonia Bydgoszcz, scheduled for 15 April.
Because Sebastian Boguś failed to honour his commitments, we are consulting our lawyers regarding financial compensation for the costs incurred by the club. In the meantime, we will continue searching for a title sponsor.
Before the press conference had ended, however, a new sponsor had been found. President Mizgalski was briefly called out of the room. When he returned, he announced that a company had just agreed to become Włókniarz Częstochowa’s title sponsor and that the agreement would be signed shortly.
After a break of several minutes, Sebastian Myśliwiec and Michał Sitek — respectively President and General Manager of DOSPEL — entered the conference room. The ventilation and air-conditioning equipment manufacturer had previously negotiated the terms of a sponsorship agreement with Włókniarz.
Following the withdrawal of Jurajski Dom Brokerski, events moved extremely quickly. The agreement with DOSPEL was signed on the same terms that had previously been negotiated with JDB.
Sebastian Myśliwiec: We are delighted that everything has reached such a positive conclusion and that DOSPEL will now sponsor Włókniarz Częstochowa.
Source: Gazeta Wyborcza, May 2012.
