"There are some people who have been saying they have everything prepared, well now is their moment," Laporta told a news conference.

The lawyer admitted he may have made some mistakes while president but felt it was "difficult to present an alternative model for the club."

So far only Francesc Linan Serra, who has failed on four previous occasions to collect the signatures necessary to become an official candidate, has said he will stand against Laporta.

Former vice-president Sandro Rossell, and Jordi Majo and Josep Maria Minguella who stood in the 2003 election, have said they will not join the race.

Potential candidates have complained about the scheduling of the electoral campaign during the holidays, throwing up the possibility that Laporta could be left unopposed.

Laporta won the 2003 election promising to buy David Beckham from Manchester United. Once elected, the move never materialised but he did bring Brazilian forward Ronaldinho to the club instead.

Laporta brushed off media speculation linking the Brazilian with a possible move to Italy: "Ronaldinho is very happy here and I don't think we need to be worried about him leaving."

Barca won the Primera Liga title in 2005 and 2006, and crowned that with the Champions League title last May.

But Laporta and his board were forced to resign on July 26 after a judge upheld a complaint from three club members who said he had already served his four-year tenure as president.

He ruled that, according to the club's statutes, the year ran from July to June, and that since Laporta had officially taken power on June 22, 2003 the eight days before the end of that month constituted his first year in office.

Laporta's four-year term would, therefore, have expired on June 30 this year.