Cash-strapped Parma "running out of time" as match postponed

Parma boss Roberto Donadoni played 63 times for Italy between 1986 to 1996

Parma have called off Sunday's Serie A visit of Udinese on safety grounds as their financial problems continue to threaten the club's future.

Players and staff from the bottom-of-the-table club have not been paid all season and stewarding costs were unable to be met to stage the fixture.

The club asked to play the match behind closed doors but the Italian Football Federation has ordered a postponement.

Alessandro Lucarelli said: "Time is running out. We need facts, not words."

Training on Friday was also cancelled with cash levels reported to be below £29,700 at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

"We've had a meeting with the president and what has emerged is the difficulty in bringing the money to Italy," captain Lucarelli continued.

"He has reiterated that he will try to give us some guarantees in the next 24 hours. But our patience has a limit. We are a united group and we have given the club an ultimatum."

Parma have changed hands twice in the last two months.

Dastraso Holdings, a Cyprus-based conglomerate, took control in December and named Ermir Kodra, a 29-year-old Albanian, as president. The club was sold again two weeks ago to Slovenian-based Mapi group.

Giampietro Manenti, the latest president, said on taking over that he was confident of sorting out the problems.

They were deducted a point in December for failing to pay player wages dating back to November 2013. Club president Tommaso Ghirardi and director Pietro Leonardi were also fined £3,951 each.

Parma finished sixth in the table last year, but missed out on the Europa League for not meeting Uefa's club licensing criteria because of unpaid bills.

The two-time Uefa Cup winners, who have also won the Coppa Italia three times, are managed by former Italy midfielder Roberto Donadoni, who managed the national side between 2006-2008.