FC Basel Welcome Ben Clifford

FC Basel today officially welcomed new manager Ben Clifford to the club. It confirms an exciting new chapter in Basel's history, having broken away from the Swiss Super League to join the New World Order (NWO). As the league name suggests, the new order makes being a Basel fan exciting again. With the world's elite at the bottom of the footballing pyramid, it gives the historically smaller teams a chance to see their names in shining lights before the elite become elite again.

It's understood the chairman has given Clifford the task of avoiding relegation into division 4, while investing into Basel this season. With a reported transfer kitty of 50 Million Euros, fans and media alike seem to be understanding as to why the chairman has set such low expectations. With European giants such as Zenit Saint Petersburg also competing in division 3, FC Basel's task looks a hard one. However, manager Ben Clifford was confidently optimistic about life in the division.

"I'm happy to have been given such a fantastic opportunity. FC Basel are a wonderful club with some really good resources. Myself and the backroom staff will work behind the scenes tirelessly in order to at first stabilise the club and then turn this team from one that is expected to be relegated into one that can at first actually challenge.

"I have of course spoken to the chairman at length about the future of the club, I've signed a 4-year deal for a reason and plan to see that out and extend my stay here depending on how the chairman feels after that time. We have been in contact with many clubs regarding some good young talent and also some older, more experienced players who can bring leadership and footballing knowhow to the squad I have already.

"My message to the fans is this: enjoy, and go with, this new era of football under the New World Order. The first season is about survival and you can expect my players to play with girt and determination. I won't settle for my players leaving the field of play without first leaving everything they have on it."

New manager Ben Clifford is certainly under no illusion of the battle he now has on his hands. Fans have been told to expect a hard season ahead. However, if recent reports coming out about a number of players coming in from across the globe to sign for Basel are to be believed, perhaps the fans can expect more things to come?

Clifford is understandably keeping target names close to his chest but fans and pundits alike are waiting for the incoming talent that manager Ben Clifford has assured he is working on. Watch this space!