Maccabi Shareholder Richard Deitz Releases Emails Over Guard-Recruitment Dispute

Maccabi Tel Aviv shareholder Richard Deitz has released internal emails about the basketball club’s search for a guard, disputing suggestions that he delayed recruitment. His statement describes exchanges with sporting director Claudio Coldebella and other club officials amid a dispute between shareholders. Deitz said he received Coldebella’s recruitment email on October 25, five days after Iffe Lundberg was injured in training. He said he answered within three hours, supported a quick signing and asked the sporting director for practical proposals. “We need actionable recommendations,” Deitz wrote. His account lists Jahmir Young, Kamar Baldwin, Killian Hayes and Nemanja Nedović among the candidates discussed, with Leland Walker also mentioned. These were recruitment options, rather than announced signings. The disclosed correspondence also addressed the existing squad. In an October 25 email, Coldebella corrected an earlier misunderstanding about Will Rayman, saying the player did not want to leave and remained important to the team, including in the dressing room. Another exchange discussed a 16-player roster and T.J. Leaf’s return after six to seven months out injured. Deitz said fellow shareholder Udi Recanati held 58% and had approved the summer signings without consulting him. He maintained that his views on contracts had been disregarded. The release of the emails brings the disagreement over recruitment into the wider ownership dispute, in which an arbitration process is expected to begin soon; no firm date was given.