Issues facing Real Betis are numerous and the Board's first decision has affected the first team bench. Juan Merino will coach Real Betis as a caretaker manager and the president spoke of the time he will be running the bench. “There are no deadlines, we shall see how it works out. This is the situation because we would like to look deeply into finding the manager for Betis. It is a decision that requires the widest of consensus. Without precipitating things”. “It makes no sense to consider whether Merino should continue until the end of the season. In sport decisions are made each and every day. I do not know how long it is going to be, I really don't know. There has been careful deliberation and we have listened to everyone. The decision was unanimous. I haven't spoken to Pepe Mel”.

Mel: “The name Pepe Mel is a name that would provoke little opposition amongst the fans, but we want to consider all avenues. We would not like to have only one alternative. The correct and sensible thing to do is to have as many alternatives as possible. Our goal is to have as many alternatives as possible”. “I have no information about negotiations with Mel. We are not going to be coerced by comments made by former board members. If there has been any meeting with Mel and former directors they would have spoken about positions, but never a commitment by the Club”. “Betis has to fulfil a plan of financial viability, and I do not know the economic pretensions Pepe Mel may have. I do not know if it would be a problem or not”.

Situation: “Last night I was not aware of the board's decision. Whatever the case it has had nothing to do with the fact that we have indicated to him what we are looking for. We have not been involved in that”.

Meeting with the team: “Tomorrow will be the first meting with the team. I have not outlined anything initially that I want to say to them. I will tell them what we expect of them and tell them the situation with the manager and in the meanwhile the post will be covered by Juan Merino”.

Velázquez's communication of the decision: “Velázquez was told immediately after the board meeting. Velázquez knows he has been dismissed”.

Budget for signings: “It may change soon if some opportunities with collaborating entities come to fruition, I cannot say who they are. It could be around one million two hundred thousand euros”.