Story Summary
Pelicans acknowledged serious summer financial problems that left the club close to bankruptcy and required outside funding to stay afloat. CEO Juuso Pulliainen said the owners have since injected capital and provided loans, while the club works on improving profitability. Juhani Jasu, acting executive director of the Players’ Association, raised concerns after some players’ fund payments were delayed in July and called for clearer communication. Pulliainen said the delays involved one or two players who submitted changed fund instructions late, with payments made one to two days afterwards. Pelicans have also stopped using invoice financing, which Pulliainen described as too expensive. He said the club’s position is now much more stable, with no immediate threat as the Liiga season gets under way.
Key Facts
- Pelicans admitted to serious financial difficulties this summer and said they needed external money to survive: ” We needed a little outside money this summer just to survive this,” CEO Juuso Pulliainen said.
- Owners have injected capital and made loans to the club to stabilise the situation; Pulliainen described a ”financial correction” under way.
- Pelicans used invoice-financing during the summer but have ceased that practice, calling it too expensive for the club.
- Pulliainen said July and August had been especially difficult because inflows were limited; he described the current situation as ”much more stable” and not an immediate danger.
- The Players’ Association acting director Juhani Jasu confirmed worries over delayed payments: in July some players’ payments to their funds were late.
- Jasu began as acting executive director of the Players’ Association at the end of July; he urged clubs to inform players quickly and honestly when difficulties occur.
- Pulliainen said the July delay concerned one or two players who changed their fund instructions late, causing a 1-2 day payment delay.
- Pulliainen accepted organisational responsibility generally but maintained that the specific fund-payment delays were caused by players’ late notifications.
- Pelicans have been criticised publicly over the summer; Pulliainen said public discussion had exaggerated the situation and that the club’s debt was relatively small versus many Liiga clubs.
- Two separate controversies added pressure: a naming dispute over the club’s Satama Rock Lahti event and offensive social-media remarks by first-choice goalie Patrik Bartošák.
- Pulliainen said the club cannot be held responsible for an employee’s private opinions while reiterating that such remarks are not the club’s position.
- The Liiga ”super season” – in which three lowest-ranked Liiga clubs will be relegated – increases competitive and financial pressure on clubs, a factor Pulliainen acknowledged.
IHM Discussion
Pelicans’ willingness to discuss its summer liquidity problems publicly is significant. Pulliainen acknowledged that the club needed outside money to get through the summer, while also outlining owner funding, loans and a move away from expensive invoice financing. Jasu’s concern centred on communication with players after delayed fund payments in July. Pulliainen disputed that the club’s cash position was the cause of those particular delays, saying they followed late notifications from one or two players.
Why It Matters
Pelicans enter a high-stakes Liiga season while attempting to turn short-term funding into a sustainable financial recovery. The source of income becomes particularly important after a difficult summer with limited cash coming in. Pulliainen has identified profitability, operational efficiency and reduced reliance on costly financing as priorities. Jasu’s call for faster, more open communication also matters: players need clarity when payments or fund contributions are affected. On the ice, the pressure is heightened by a season in which the bottom three Liiga teams will be relegated to B-liiga.
Mini Q&A
Did Pelicans really come close to bankruptcy this summer?
Yes. Pelicans’ CEO Juuso Pulliainen acknowledged the club was in a ”tight situation” this summer and said they needed ”a little outside money” to survive.
Who provided the extra money?
Pelicans’ owners injected capital and lent the club money to stabilise its finances, according to CEO Juuso Pulliainen.
Were player salaries unpaid?
The Players’ Association’s acting executive director Juhani Jasu confirmed concerns: in July some players’ payments to their funds were late. Pulliainen says the delays were due to late notifications from one or two players and were paid 1-2 days late.
Was the club using expensive financing to cover shortfalls?
Yes. Pulliainen said the club had relied on invoice-financing over the summer but has since stopped using it because it is too costly.
Did other controversies make the financial problems worse?
Pulliainen said the naming dispute over the Satama Rock Lahti event and offensive social-media comments by goaltender Patrik Bartošák created additional headaches during an already difficult summer.
Is the club out of danger now?
Pulliainen said the position is now much more stable following owner support and operational adjustments, and that there is no immediate threat. He expects cash flow to improve as the season progresses.
Coach Mark Comment
Financial uncertainty can test a dressing room even when the on-ice work remains unchanged. The coaching staff’s job is to keep preparation clear, routines consistent and players focused on controllable details. Straight communication from across the organisation is vital, because uncertainty away from the rink can quickly become a distraction within it.
IHM Final View
Pelicans say they have moved from a serious summer cash squeeze to a more stable short-term position through owner funding, loans and operational changes. The club still faces the harder task of building a sustainable model around profitability and more efficient operations. With the Liiga season under way, Pelicans will aim to turn that financial correction into stability on and off the ice.