You Can Buy A Former Serie A Football Club For Just 85p

If you've always dreamed of owning a football club, now might just be your chance as Messina, a former Serie A side, are up for less than £1.

The Sicilian outfit were promoted from Serie B in the 2003/04 season after finishing fourth on 79 points.

They were tipped to go straight back down in the newly-expanded 20-team top flight league but overachieved massively and secured an impressive seventh placed finish under Bortolo Mutti.

Messina narrowly avoided the drop in 2005/06, finishing two points ahead of the relegation zone - but then ended 2006/07 as Serie A's bottom club and were sent back to the second-tier.

Financial problems started to arise and it led to them being kicked out of Serie B and ultimately bankruptcy being filed for in 2008.

Much like what's happened with Palermo, it's been a downwards spiral since then. These days, following ownership and name changes, the Giallorossi ply their trade in Serie C but are now available to purchase for €1(85p).

Pietro Sciotti, the club's president, has issued a statement and said the deadline is this weekend.

"I have still not received a single offer for ACR Messina, just a few phone calls to ask for information," Sciotti wrote, as shared by the club's Instagram page.

“Last January and then in May I underlined how my last objective was to attain Serie C survival and leave. With immense displeasure, after five years at the helm of the glorious ACR Messina, I repeat my desire to end my time at the club and for this reason, I am ready to sell the club for a symbolic €1.

“It is my final act of live. The deadline is the 24 hours of June 12, if there is no offer, I will look at the situation and make necessary decisions, even if they are difficult.”

It does seem as though Messina could well be folding if a new buyer is not found.

Notable past former players of Messina include Juventus forwards Antonio Nocerino and Marco Storari.