Madrid, Jan 9 (IANS): Former FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta threw his hat in the ring and announced he was considering standing in the presidential elections which will be held at the end of the current season.

Current president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed he was bringing the elections forward by 12 months, reports Xinhua.

This was done in order to calm the "tensions" surrounding the club following the sacking of Director of Football Andoni Zubizarreta, questions over the future of Lionel Messi and coach, Luis Enrique and also the fallout from the confirmation of the FIFA transfer ban which will run until January 2016.

Bartomeu replaced Sandro Rosell, who was forced to resign over irregularities in the signing of Brazilian striker, Neymar.

Bartomeu announced he will stand as a candidate and it looks as if Laporta, who presided over a highly successful period at the Camp Nou between 2003 and 2010, will do the same.

"I am prepared," said Laporta Thursday.

"I am ready, I want to and I will decide at the right moment," said the lawyer, who would be a popular choice among fans, who remember how he signed players such as Ronaldinho for the club and also appointed Pep Guardiola as first team coach.

Laporta's rivals will, however, point to the fact that he left the club's economy in a perilous state, with the current board of directors forced to make important cutbacks. It is also not certain whether Laporta's political ambitions would prevent him from standing.