Calderon promises hands-off approach to Real presidency

Ramon Calderon promised to give his choice for sports director, Predrag Mijatovic, free rein to plan for the future when he presented his candidature for the Real Madrid presidential election on July 2.

The lawyer and club director, who served under former presidents Florentino Perez and Fernando Martin, said his recent experience gave him an advantage over other candidates.

"I am proud to have served on those boards which had more good points than bad, though because I was there did not necessarily mean I agreed with everything that went on," Calderon told a news conference on Monday.

"Having been there I know what went wrong and am in a good position to put things right. One of those is that the president should not interfere in different areas of the club."

"The board will not sign or influence the signing of players."

Real finished second in the Primera Liga last month, ending their third successive season without a major trophy, their worst run of form in 52 years.

Calderon and Mijatovic refused to discuss the possibility of Juventus boss Fabio Capello returning to Real as coach, or expand on media speculation that they wanted to sign Brazilian midfielder Kaka.

Former Serbia & Montenegro striker Mijatovic, who scored Real's winner in the 1998 European Cup final, said: "I met Capello a few days ago, but it was just a chat. He is an old friend I have known a long time. If we win we'll bring a top coach to the club."

"We have a solid base of great players and only need some new signings to make us really competitive."

Other candidates have thrown their hats into the ring. Former director Juan Manuel Villar Mir and ex-world rally champion Carlos Sainz have announced a joint bid.

Leading Spanish businessman Juan Palacios, lawyer and economist Arturo Baldasano and former president Lorenzo Sanz are scheduled to announce their bids this week.