Film producer Aurelio De Laurentiis will buy financially troubled Napoli for29.25 million (US$35.3 million).

De Laurentiis reached an agreement with an Italian court to buy the club, which Diego Maradona led to Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990.

The southern team has been in the hands of various Italian courts since it was disbanded and relegated from the second division to the third in July due to financial problems.

Since then, the club's numerous supporters have protested outside court hearings, and even blocked Naples' central train station on one occasion to show their dismay over the team's fate.

"A new era is beginning and I hope the fans have the patience and the respect for this club that it requires,'' De Laurentiis said on Monday after his ownership was confirmed.

Napoli has been struggling financially since Maradona left, and has spent five of the past six seasons in Serie B.

However, the club still holds immense sentimental value in Italy, where it is considered the team of the south.

Besides its two Serie A titles, Napoli also finished runner-up four times in the top division.

Perugia owner Luciano Gaucci also attempted to buy the club, but his offers were rejected and he dropped his pursuit of the club on Tuesday.

De Laurentiis previously made failed attempts to buy the club in 1997 and 1999.

He said his role model in taking over the club would be Diego Della Valle, the shoe industrialist who brought Fiorentina back to the top division after it was similarly disbanded and relegated two years ago.

De Laurentiis indicated he would likely hire former Atalanta manager Giovanni Vavassori as the club's new coach.

League officials on Tuesday confirmed Napoli's starting position in the third division -- Serie C1 -- and gave the club until Sept. 23 to acquire new players and have a preseason. The team's first two matches were postponed until later in the season.