Barcelona will call for early board elections at the end of the season but have no intention of seeing star player Lionel Messi or coach Luis Enrique leave the club any time soon.
Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu announced on Wednesday his decision to bring the elections forward by 12 months in order to recover "stability" at the club after growing media reports of friction in the changing room and in the board room in recent times.
"We have decided to call elections at the end of the season in order to reduce the tension that the club is experiencing and suffering from," Bartomeu said to the Spanish media in a press conference on Wednesday.
"I will be standing. I believe the tension the club is experiencing is disproportionate and it does not adjust in any way to the club's reality. To bring forward the elections by a year will help bring stability.
"I ask for fair play to all the candidates that will stand for election.
" The Spanish press reported this week of the increased friction in the Barca changing room between Luis Enrique and some of his players, including Argentina star Messi.
Daily sports newspaper Marca claimed that many players were unhappy with the former Barca player's tactical and coaching methods since he replaced Gerardo Martino as coach in the summer.
"We have no doubt in Luis Enrique's project," Bartomeu said. "Luis Enrique has a contract until 2016 and projects are not done short term. He has done a very good job and we are satisfied with his work.
"Luis Enrique is re-doing the team. There's no doubt he is the right person to be where he is." - Josep Maria Bartomeu
Bartomeu denied reports that Messi is considering leaving the club he joined at the age of 13.
"I see Leo Messi very happy at Barcelona," Bartomeu said. "I see how he plays, his involvement, his hunger to win.
"They are all extremely motivated, not just Messi. Messi is our leader and we want him to continue to be our leader.
"What would I do if one day one offer arrives for Leo? There's no issue. Leo Messi has put his trust in Barca a long time ago, he is the best player in the world.
"There are things that don't need to be explained. This year's Leo has nothing to do with that of last season. In this season he has ambition, he has a lot of hunger and that is good news for Barca fans that Leo is as he is right now.
"Messi is not the life of the club but he is a crucial part of it, for sure.
" Bartomeu vehemently denied reports in the Catalan media that Luis Enrique threatened to open a disciplinary case on four-time player of the year Messi for missing Monday's training session.
The Barca coach reiterated that Messi's absence was due to illness.
While Bartomeu added: "Disciplinary actions on Messi? This is totally false. I don't know who did this but they did it with an intention to hurt the team.
"I cannot deny everything but this is something serious and we deny it. I have had contact with Messi and Luis Enrique.
"There are things that happen in the changing room and we don't get involved although I do speak with all my players and all is well.
" Messi trained on Wednesday morning with the rest of his team-mates ahead of Thursday's Copa del Rey match against Elche.
The Argentinian star and Brazil striker Neymar were on the bench in Sunday's 1-0 La Liga defeat at Real Sociedad, which cost Barca the chance to overtake Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Division.
Barca trail Real by a point, having played a game more, after they were unable to respond to Jordi Alba's early own goal in San Sebastian.
Bartomeu also spoke of his decision to sack sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta on Monday, just one week after losing their appeal to overturn a one-year transfer ban imposed by FIFA for violating rules for registering youth players.
"Sometimes as president one has to take difficult decisions," he said. "I lost confidence in Zubizarreta and as I had been the one to hire him following (coach Josep) Guardiola's recommendation, I decided to be the one to dismiss him.
"There are people that have associated Zubizarreta's dismissal with the FIFA ban. I have already stated that Zubizarreta had no responsibility regarding the issue of the FIFA ban.
"He had nothing to do with those signings. Zubizarreta did very good things and others that weren't that good but I appreciate him.
"However, our confidence had deteriorated. We are now looking for his replacement. The new sporting director has to know this club, our way of playing.
" Zubizarreta has been heavily criticised for the club's signings in the summer, which was Barca's last opportunity to bring in new players before January 2016.
Barca signed Luis Suarez from Liverpool but the Uruguay forward has struck just once in nine La Liga games.
Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen has been plagued by injuries and has not played for Barca since his £15million move from Arsenal in August.
Brazilian defender Douglas has also failed to impress, making just three appearances since joining the club from Sao Paulo in the summer.
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