Klebér Saarenpää and Helsingborgs IF parted ways after last season, which saw the team finish in eleventh place in Superettan. According to major media, HIF is far from satisfied with that eleventh-place finish. Stevie Grieve replaced Saarenpää and got the manager role at the end of November.
The 39-year-old Scot was brought in from the Finnish club SJK Seinäjoki. Since Grieve's arrival, HIF has brought in ten players, though the identities and roles of those players have not been disclosed. Chairman Fredrik Karlsson is clear that he is not worried about the investment.
No, we have made conscious choices. When we looked during the autumn how we should organize ourselves next year, we landed on that a manager solution could be a good idea.
'No, we have made conscious choices. When we looked during the autumn how we should organize ourselves next year, we landed on that a manager solution could be a good idea,' Karlsson said. He added, 'And when we then have recruited Stevie Grieve, we have known that we get a playing style that is a bit different than the one we have had for two years.
' Grieve has a large influence over the investment. According to major media, Grieve has his mandates and controls the sporting aspects, but works within a budget and strategies, closely with Reda Chahrour and Mikael Dahlberg. Karlsson is involved in certain parts and would speak up if something was not liked, working together to do it differently.
And when we then have recruited Stevie Grieve, we have known that we get a playing style that is a bit different than the one we have had for two years. It is clear that it will require changes in the squad, you have to expect that.
'He has his mandates, he controls the sporting aspects. But he has a budget and strategies to adhere to. He works closely with Reda (Chahrour, club director) and Mikael Dahlberg (technical chief).
I am involved in certain parts. If there was something we would not like, we would speak about it and then we would work together to do it in a different way,' Karlsson stated. HIF's chairman is not worried about having changed too much in the squad.
'No, I trust that those who work in sports know what they are doing so I am not worried about that. We have recruited people we have confidence in so they will surely solve it. I myself could believe that in a very short time it is difficult to get it together very well, but it will be good in the long run,' Karlsson said.