Paolo Bedin Appointed Lega Serie B President After Election Victory

Former Vicenza director of football Paolo Bedin surpassed the two-thirds majority required to win his first term as Serie B President, as he emphasised the need for reformation and relationship building.

All 20 clubs were present to cast their votes at the Lega B General Assembly at The Hilton Hotel in Milan on Monday. After the election’s completion, Bedin thanked his adversaries for the calm climate surrounding the meet.

“I thank [outgoing] President Mauro Balata for the gesture he made after the second vote and also Vittorio Veltroni, but above all the clubs, which have shown maturity, one which gives hope for the future. It’s time to analyze the various issues with the clubs.”

Bedin holds a masters in sports management and is on the Board of Directors at European Leagues, headquartered in Nyon, Switzerland. Until recently, the 55-year-old held the position of Lega Pro (Serie C) Director General.

He will be joined during his four-year term by a new board of advisors: Carmelo Salerno (Reggiana), Filippo Piccoli (Mantova), Francesco Dini (Cremonese), Andrea Corradino (Spezia), Luigi De Laurentiis Jnr (Bari) and Matteo Manfredi (Sampdoria).

How do the Lega B Presidential Elections work?

Three Presidential candidates were on the ballot: the incumbent Mauro Balata, seeking a third term; the ambitious Vittorio Veltroni; and former Lega B director general Bedin.

For those new to Italian football procedure, a two-thirds majority must be reached to declare victory or else Lega B would have been placed under temporary administration.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, each candidate delivered speeches before the first round of votes were cast, with clubs allowed to voice concerns. In Milan, only Brescia owner Massimo Cellino took to the stage to add his two cents.

There can be up to three rounds of voting in order to achieve a two-thirds majority. Winning means attaining a minimum of 14 votes, with black smoke signalled following the completion of the first round of voting: Bedin nosed his way into the lead (8), with Veltroni and Balata polling five each.

The consensus became more apparent during the second round of voting as Bedin’s numbers increased to 11, three short of the 14 required, with Veltroni and Balata on four each (one blank ballot), prompting the latter to withdraw formally.

With that gesture, Balata officially ended his two-term tenure, which began in 2017, opening the door for Bedin to collect 15 votes in the third round of voting to surpass the two-thirds majority.

What does Bedin’s appointment mean for Serie B?

“There are financial aspects of great urgency, indicated by the latest audiovisual revenue announcements,” Bedin explained.

“There are aspects, dear to me, of organizational structure, and of dialectics, of synergy with the two leagues of [Serie A] and [Serie] C, which should be made one of the focal points of this governance.”

Indeed, Bedin must navigate the league through some bumps as it looks to expand its global reach. But this is not his first rodeo. The father of two returns with the experience of his previous eight-year spell as general manager at Lega B between 2010 and 2018.

“The system remains complex, in which economic and financial sustainability remains an important factor of concern. It also remains a fascinating championship because it represents the intermediate level of professionalism which sees the presence of many important teams and quality players, and of many talents who are approaching the professional world.”

Bedin, who speaks Italian, French and English, authored “Il marketing delle società sportive” (marketing of sports clubs) in 2011, studied sports economics in Florence, overall sports management in Milan and holds a certificate in International Management & Strategy (University of Iowa) in addition to a degree in Political Science.

Utilizing this experience, Bedin believes Serie B can begin a new chapter, and form stronger relationships.

“We can no longer avoid strong collaborations with both [Serie] A and [Serie] C. The professional world must converse more to find supply chain ideas, but doing so with a constructive spirit and a maintained relationship.”

“Any idea of ​​reform must be seen in the federal context and arise from the dialogue between the leagues, without abuses or unilateral impositions. I believe that in any sector, relationships are the basis of planning and work.”

“I can say there are excellent relationships with everything needed, both personal and professional, and this is the important starting point.”

Here’s more Serie B content with Cesena FC’s Jonathan Klinsmann: