Supporter-initiative finance transfer

This winter local profiles and Brann-supporters Frode Hellebø, Marius Larsen and Marit Voldsæter founded the initiative "Softball". This happened as a response to the "Hardball" group who has financed several of the major transfer deals for Brann the latter years. Softball's aim was to raise money from Brann-fans to secure a local profile and finance transfer-deals fore local football-talents.

Tuesday, the first contribution from Softball was announced, as the local Fredrik Haugen was presented as a new Brann-player. Already in mid-july there was talk about this transfer. Brann had agreed with local lower-division side Løv-Ham on the transfer-amount for Haugen and his teammate Kevin Dure.

- After this Fredrik has been at Brann Stadion and we have presented our plans for him. We have among other things discussed what is the proper training- and match-arena for him going forward, said head coach Rune Skarsfjord to Brann.no tuesday.

Now the personal terms have been discussed and agreed, and the only decision to be made is the timing of the actual transfer. Haugen has done well for Løv-Ham on the second level and may or may not finish the season for Løv-Ham.

- This is something we will decide in the course of the month. What we do know is that as of november 2010 Haugen is a Brann-player. If he stays with Løv-Ham to finish the season, he will still have access to our medical staff and will be able to come to our training grounds and participate whenever he wants, said Skarsfjord.

This is the first time a group of Brann-supporters have financed a transfer deal for the club through fund-raising.