What a difference a year makes. At the end of last season, Parma looked as though they'd ended a tremendous campaign with a European qualifying position. However, after the final whistle blew on the 2013/14 campaign, the problems began to appear and they were all off the pitch. The club were officially denied a Uefa license after financial irregularities which included failure to pay taxes. The hangover from that disappointment was immediately felt on the pitch as the players, most of whom weren't even being paid, looked like they couldn't mentally pick themselves up for games. They lost an incredible 13 of their first 16 league games and were rock bottom of the table for most of the season. Roberto Donadoni gracefully and stoically remained in his position as manager but the former Italian national team coach was fighting an impossible battle. Star player Antonio Cassano terminated his contract before the winter break which seemed like a final kick in the teeth for the club whose ownership was being passed around like a hot potato due to the continued financial difficulties. It eventually led to the club being declared bankrupt and having several points deducted. Some of their games had to be postponed and only a helping hand in terms of a loan from the other 19 clubs in Serie A allowed them to finish the season. Relegation was a foregone conclusion and that was ironically when the players felt like a weight had been lifted off their shoulders and they began to pick up some terrific results including being one of only three sides to beat champions, Juventus. It was hard to pick a player of the season for the worst side in Serie A but veteran defender Alessandro Lucarelli remained truly loyal to the club and even tried to help sort out their off-field issues. Nevertheless, it was never going to be enough and the club went down but their off the field issues meant that it wasn't just to Serie B. This once storied club will now be forced to play amongst the amateur ranks of Italian football in Serie D. It truly has been a sad demise.
