Lim Junior Faces the Music as Valencia Shareholders Let Rip
Kiat Lim met with fierce backlash at Valencia's shareholders meeting, responding to angry fans with defiance rather than solutions.
Lim Junior Faces the Music as Valencia Shareholders Let Rip
Kiat Lim’s rare appearance at Valencia’s shareholders meeting descended into chaos as fans vented their frustration at the club’s absent ownership.
Rain Couldn’t Dampen the Fury
What a right old palaver at Feria Valencia yesterday. Despite the miserable weather and the deliberately inconvenient 10am Wednesday slot, around a hundred determined shareholders made their way to the auditorium to have their say.
Though 91.73% of the club’s capital was represented, only a tiny fraction belonged to small shareholders – the actual fans who turned up in person rather than the suits from Singapore phoning it in.
This marked Kiat Lim’s first shareholders meeting since becoming club president in March 2025, and blimey, they didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet for him. The young Lim has been about as visible as a ghost at Mestalla, having only visited Valencia twice since his appointment:
- Once for his fleeting 48-hour coronation tour
- A lightning visit in July with his mate, the Prince of Johor, to watch a friendly match involving the Malaysian Johor Tigers
Boos and Jeers All Round
The moment Lim junior stepped into the auditorium, he was greeted with a chorus of boos that would make a pantomime villain blush. Director General Javier Solís got the same treatment, both on arrival and during the Q&A session.
When the criticism reached fever pitch, particularly regarding the club’s dire financial state, Kiat Lim took the floor unscheduled: “Your frustration is understandable. I accept that we make mistakes in our position. You can shake [unintelligible], everything I say will be called a lie before I even speak.”
Tempers Flare
The meeting grew increasingly heated, with shareholders standing up and shouting: “This is a disgrace, they’re explaining nothing!” and “It’s the first meeting where the accounts haven’t been explained!”
Lim’s responses did little to calm the atmosphere, as he jumped between topics without addressing specific concerns. When discussing the sporting situation, he admitted: “The result is bad and I understand everyone is frustrated.”
However, rather than offering concrete solutions, he fell back on vague promises about sustainability and building foundations: “We’ve seen others spend money, constantly change coaches, but it hasn’t been positive. We’re looking for something much more sustainable.”
The Breaking Point
As tensions reached boiling point, Lim’s frustration showed through: “You can shout for three hours, insult my family, but that’s not going to work for doing constructive things for the club.”
For Valencia fans, it’s another day at the office with the Lim dynasty. The club continues to drift while the ownership seems more interested in damage control than actual progress. The supporters’ patience isn’t just wearing thin – it’s gone right down the frog and toad.