Financiers Christer Gardell and Ulf Rosberg's proposal to invest 100 million kronor in Swedish tennis, with the requirement that the association's board be replaced, has shaken Swedish tennis.
On Friday, the parties, on the one hand Gardell and Rosberg, on the other hand representatives of the country's seven tennis regions, will meet in Stockholm.
It is then up to the regions to vote on the tennis association's board at next year's annual meeting in 2026.
"Find a solution"
From the sidelines, Stefan Edberg has now taken part in the proposal and the debate that has been going on in recent days. Edberg himself is generally positive about the proposal, he notes for TT:
Overall, it's incredibly positive that something is happening. The money is much needed, the plan they have presented seems reasonable even if it is quite similar to the one the association has. Then the parties must take a stand on this and find a solution.
Do you have any comments on the counter-demand that the board should resign?
No, not so much. Anyone can make demands. What I personally would not do is write a check and then say "help yourself", then you have no control, he says and elaborates:
If they think it's an important point, you have to find a solution. The important thing is that the money gets out to Swedish tennis and the clubs and regions. They are really needed.
As a tennis player, Stefan Edberg is one of Sweden's best of all time, former world number one and with six Grand Slam titles, including two Wimbledon wins.
Edberg points out, however, that nowadays, compared to when he was active, even more capital is required to reach the top and make a professional effort.
After his career, Edberg has worked in the financial world and is now the second-largest owner of the asset management company Case Group, where former NHL pro Nicklas Lidström is also a co-owner.
In connection with the latest quarterly report, it was reported that they managed an amount of just over 20.5 billion kronor.
Does not want to sit on the board
Is Case Group interested in going in and supporting in the same way, and can you imagine a place on the association board?
The sad answer is that it's a board issue. Case Group has previously supported Swedish tennis, so it's not impossible, but Christer has an incredibly many contacts in the business world, it can definitely create a ripple effect.
But I will not sit on the board. I have chosen not to sit on any boards at all, on the other hand, one can be helpful.
