A year has passed since the Alicante mayor, Luis Barcala, spoke of Hercules with heightened concern, and the club’s troubling profile has notably softened. Last year, after the blue-and-white team slipped into the fourth tier of Spanish football, Barcala made a pointed claim about the owners’ credibility, suggesting they could not lead effectively. That moment narrowed his rhetoric and coincided with a smaller turnout at the following protest and the Sunday morning gathering led by Enrique Ortiz.
The city’s top official met with about 600 fans in Plaza del Ayuntamiento a day after the demonstration. He offered a show of solidarity with the fans’ disappointment and anger, yet he refrained from elaborating on the factors behind those emotions. His focus remained on the broader question of ownership and governance, rather than on a detailed manifesto for the club’s future. Since 1999 the question has persisted: who controls the majority stake and who bears responsibility for building a project that can restore Hercules to prominence? For the political leader of the People’s Party, the club and the feeling of Hercules are two distinct matters altogether.
Ortiz’s stance: the city council must stand with the club or face consequences
In this episode Barcala kept a low profile, choosing not to escalate confrontations after the turmoil and the sharp accusations aimed at Barceló and his then-partner, who had previously managed the club. The owner’s struggle to keep the club afloat, including moments when the club briefly handed over control to municipal authorities, underscored the fragility of Hercules’ survival. In the larger governance framework, a provincial committee clarified that it does not possess decision-making authority in this matter and pointed to the municipality’s jurisdiction. The Generalitat showed a direct link to Hercules through the ongoing dispute at José Rico Pérez, awaiting a court ruling to determine the landlord and tenant roles in the venue.
Ortiz’s return to the public agenda arrived with a warning: if the City Council fails to back the club, the keys to Hercules could be handed over to the authorities who run it. The message underscored a political deadline and a warning to both sides about the consequences of inaction for the club’s future and for the city’s football culture.
Hercules, IVF, and looming court dates
As the situation intensified, the club faced a separate line of concerns around governance and validation. The calendar drew nearer to formal proceedings, and the club’s counsel prepared a path forward in the face of potential legal scrutiny. Local supporters remained engaged, watching closely for developments that could alter the club’s ownership structure and its operational direction. While the public discourse swirled around who should exercise control, the fundamental aim remained clear: to secure a viable future for Hercules and to restore the club’s standing in Spanish football. The narrative was not merely about titles or league status but about stewardship and accountability for a community symbol.
Pedro Rojas contributed to the ongoing discussion, highlighting how community voices and legal processes intersect in the fate of a historic club. The discourse reflected a broader reality in which sports teams navigate political, financial, and social pressures as they strive to remain relevant and competitive. The club’s fans and local watchers continued to map out the potential routes to stability, whether through governance reform, backing from city institutions, or new leadership that could align with a long-term restoration plan.