Mario Bereta's time in charge of PAOK has come to an end after only 23 days. The reasons for his dismissal were his inability to control the squad and the constant experimentation with team formation only days before the crucial upcoming matches with Ajax. Pavlos Dermitzakis was yesterday formally presented as the new coach of PAOK ending a saga that began over two months ago when he was close to being appointed before a last minute decision to look for a foreign coach.
At yesterday's press conference Zisis Vryzas commendably accepted responsibility for the hiring of Bereta, and admitted that in hindsight the wrong man was hired as he was unable to adapt to the requirements of PAOK.
We all make mistakes and Theodoros Zagorakis and Zisis Vryzas have our support more than ever, for mistakes can be forgiven when the motive is the greater good of PAOK, if they realised that Bereta was not the right man to take PAOK forward, then they have taken the right decision and who are we to question their judgment when they have taken the club o far in such a short space of time. We seem to have short memories, does anyone remember where PAOK was 3 years ago, watching that state of affairs was torture. Nothing has been lost, our real target all along has been entry into the group stages of the Europa league, if that is not achieved, then it will be a psychological and financial setback but again we will deal with that if and when it comes united, for there is no one that can help us other than ourselves.
What is disturbing, if true, is that the coach was removed because some players did not like his methods or were becoming peripheral figures in his starting eleven. Again, were not mind readers and we don't know what's gone down, however any player including Pablo Garcia need to be put in their place if that's the case. Some supporters need to wake up before they become Gavroi, we support PAOK not Pablo Garcia, this is PAOK not Greek idol, we respect everyone who has contributed to PAOK, but leave the big statements at the door, put your heads down and give your all to get a result against Ajax, just like the team that included Zagorakis and Vryzas did against all odds against Arsenal.

The necessary building costs for the upgrade of Toumba stadium to meet Champions League standards will be paid for by PAOK FC, following a unanimous board decision in the aftermath of OPAPS decision to withdraw their funding commitment.

PAOK FC President Theodoros Zagorakis and his colleagues were outraged with OPAPS decision to withdraw funding following riots in Lamia between PAOK and Aek fans at the handball final four tournaments. After discussing possible alternatives, the board decided to proceed with the implementation of the required safety works, with the cost to be borne by PAOK FC.

Following the board meeting, PAOK FC expressed its anger and indignation at OPAPS decision to withdraw funding, while calling on OPAP to "cut" state sponsorships to all teams whose supporters have engaged in violent behaviour. Thereby showing the same sensitivity to the issue of violence as they have chosen to show in this instance, yet conveniently ignore when it involves violent behaviour from other supporters teams such as Olympiakos less than two weeks ago when they were involved in pitched battles with riot police in their own stadium after their teams to defeat to PAOK. We can go on and on, there's no point however as no one is listening, and yet we blame others for the corruption inherent at every level of Greek society that has brought it to the abyss of annihilation.

PAOK FC Announcement:

"OPAPS withdrawal of the grant for the necessary, for safety reasons, building work at Toumba stadium fills us with rage and indignation, and absolute certainty that political interference is behind this decision. We realised early in our tenure, the states intentions towards PAOK. The previous government and Minister of Sport were full of rhetoric and promises, without ever delivering, and were seeing the same act repeated by the new government.

If the Ministers of Culture, Sport, and Civil Protection and OPAPS management consider that this is the way to combat violence, then we would expect all state sponsorships and subsidies to be withdrawn from teams whose supporters have engaged in violent behaviour. We would expect the same sensitivity, response and action to be forthcoming, however even if we go back only two weeks (Rioting of Olympiakos supporters) we find that there is no response other than silence from any of you.

Why is PAOK paying for the inability of the State and its authorities to anticipate what a 10 year old could predict?

Why is the whole of PAOK being identified with the 50 to 100 brainless individuals who were involved in the incidents at Lamia, taking advantage of the complete absence of any serious police presence and tactical planning. Knowing full well that these types of "supporters" have been expelled from Toumba and are persona non grata as far as PAOK is concerned.

Should we, applying the same logic, stop paying our obligations to the state because the politicians have placed the country on the brink of bankruptcy?

PAOK FC has condemned all acts of violence by taking the appropriate corrective action. We have spent more money than was required of us to bolster stadium security. Now we are obliged to invest funds to repair Toumba, we expect those in charge to conduct their responsibilities with such seriousness and sensitivity with every team.

PAOK FC only needs one sponsor, its supporters, whose constant devotion, financial and moral support, make all the obstacles you place on our path, appear miniscule."
PAOK FC

The regular season has finally come to an end with PAOK finishing in third place, a successful season by any one's standard's when one takes into account the difference in budgetary resources between PAOK and the two teams that finished above it. The team has maintained the high standard it set last year through it's consistency, and if one excludes the slow start to the season and the understandable flat performances after the defeat to Aris, despite it's limited budget the team may well have been crowned champions this year. However that is all in the past.
The team now has to focus on the upcoming play offs for the remaining champions league qualification spot. PAOK will begin the playoffs one point behind Olympiakos and ahead of Aek and Aris. We know what we are up against, so it's the duty of every player to perform at their optimum to overcome both on-field and off-field obstacles that will be placed before us. If we are to be stopped from winning the play offs let it be due to the interference of third parties (to highlight for the 100th time the ingrained corruption of this league) and not because of the performance of our players, for then we have only ourselves to blame.
In looking at the play-offs there is no reason why the team cannot come out on top, Olympiakos is a shadow of a team, excluding the interference of the refereeing fraternity (which is bound to happen), there is no excuse, as quite simply we are a better team than they are when at our best, we should be good enough to overcome the referees as well. Aek as a team is comprised of two to three quality players, this is one of the waekest Aek teams in history, so again there is no excuse other than our own incompetence if we are unable to finish above Aek in the final play off standings. The same applies to Aris, when you finish 16 points ahead of your opponent at the end of the regular season, your superiority is obvious so again you should dispose of your opponent.
Looking ahead to the play-offs, PAOK needs to win all three of its home games, win at Aek away, and at least draw with Olympiakos away.I have the Aris away game pencilled in as a loss as they will play above themselves in their quest to stop us from finishing and it's a difficult ground to achieve a result due to the small size of the stadium, and the fanaticism of their supporters which increases in fervour when playing PAOK due to their inherent inferiority complex when it comes to PAOK. Based on these projections PAOK needs 13 out of a maximum of 18 points to ensure first place in the play - offs.
As stated earlier if we do not finish first let it be due to interference not to a lack of discipline or passion from our players.
Finally I would like to reiterate that the play off system to determine the second Champions League position is a joke designed as a foolproof mechanism for Olympiakos and Panathinaikos to qualify for the Champions League every year irrespective of their final standing at the end of the regular season and as such it should be abolished immediately. Based on this belieft and the corrupt nature of the superleague, it is apparent that Olympiakos will win the play-offs.. However as PAOKTSIDES we expect our team to force their opponents to resort to their true nature and defeat us with their usual devious means, at least this way the dignity of my team is upheld and simultaneously my adversary is unmasked for what he is, a corruptor of the league.