Tabib relinquishes control of Hapoel TA

After a tumultuous year, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Eli Tabib are no more…sort of.

Tabib, who seized full control of the club last summer, announced on Monday that he has given power of attorney to Advocate Yoav Moser to hold an auction to find Hapoel a new owner for an asking price of NIS 18.5 million. Following an ongoing protest by Hapoel fans, Tabib put the club up for sale at the end of last season, and after negotiations with several interested parties failed to come to fruition in recent weeks, he decided to unilaterally cut his connections with the Reds by transferring complete control to Moser.

The Advocate, who heads the real estate department at the Pelles, Moser, Sherman & Co. Law Office in Ramat Gan, will, in turn, hold an auction to find a new owner, while in the meantime also being in charge of the club’s daily running.

“Tabib has deposited an irrevocable power of attorney in the hands of Advocate Yoav Moser which gives him exclusive rights to the running of the club,” a Hapoel statement read.

“In return for the transfer of the ownership rights, Tabib will receive NIS 18.5 million as soon as all the guarantees are received and approved by him.

“Tabib will be responsible for past debts and thus he no longer has any involvement with Hapoel Tel Aviv.

“The club will be transferred to Moser, who will already begin the auction process at the start of next month to find the club a buyer.

“Fans will be given preferable treatment in the auction with the purpose of involving them in the running of the club.”

Until a new owner is found, Moser will have to balance the club’s budget with only its income at his disposal.

“Hapoel Tel Aviv is important to me and my intention is to include the fans in the running of the club,” Moser said.

“I hope that there will be serious bids from parties who care about Hapoel Tel Aviv and its fans.”

Tabib officially bought a 50 percent stake at Hapoel to join Moni Harel as a co-owner in the summer of 2010, but the relationship between the two soon soured.

By the end of the 2010/11 season they could no longer coexist and Tabib ultimately bought his partner’s stake for NIS 6 million. Tabib, who owned Hapoel Kfar Saba between 1995 and 2009, was received with suspicion by Hapoel fans and the supporters began to hold demonstrations calling for his departure following the shocking sacking of coach Dror Kashtan, shortly after which the club’s chairman, CEO and press officer simultaneously resigned in protest of the owner’s running of the club.

The constant harassment Tabib and his family faced from the fans eventually broke his will, leading to Monday’s announcement of his decision to sever contact with the club, despite still not finding a buyer to take his place.

“I came to Hapoel Tel Aviv with good intentions,” Tabib said on Monday. “In my time we reached great achievements which will be carved in the history of the club.

“It wasn’t possible for me to continue and invest in the team and I therefore decided to sell.

“I would like to note that I am leaving the club in an excellent state after it finished in second place and won the State Cup.”