J2 league soccer club Fukuoka Avispa, whose financial woes recently came to light, has agreed to tie-up with China’s Hangzhou Greentown F.C. Executives from Hangzhou Greentown will visit Fukuoka on Feb. 26 to tour Avispa’s facilities. Under the two-year deal, Avispa will send four coaches to China. A portion of the estimated ¥60 million that Avispa will receive each year will be used to help rebuild the club.Located in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Greentown is a pro club in China’s Super League. Former Japanese national team head coach Takeshi Okada coached the team for two seasons until last year and now serves as the team’s player development advisor. He approached Avispa’s newly hired president (and former Waseda University classmate), Atsushi Nomiyama, about the offer as a way to bring J League training expertise to Hangzhou. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 2/25
