April 2 – Botev Plovdiv owner Anton Zingarevich has put 30% of his shares in the club for sale following the Bulgarian ban on the Russian businessman entering the country.
Zingarevich is banned from entering the country for ten years. Having promised to support the club, he now wants Botev Plovdiv fans to buy 30% of his shares in the club.
In a statement to Botev’s supporters, Zingarevich said that at the moment he cannot increase his cash investment in the club.
“I am addressing all of you in my capacity as the majority owner of PFC Botev to clarify the current state of our beloved club, as well as to familiarize you in detail with the possibilities for its future development,” said Zingarevich.
“You are all familiar with the restrictions imposed by the state, which have damaged my image in society, branding me as a ‘threat to national security’ and depriving me of the right to visit Bulgaria for a period of 10 years. Despite the numerous efforts made by both myself and the management of PFC Botev, for almost half a year, none of us have received a clear answer as to the specific reasons that led to this absurd decision. I find this fact extremely worrying.
The ease with which such decisions are made in Bulgaria against a foreign investor, without providing any opportunity for any defense, due to the lack of specific accusations, practically means that my investments in the club are not protected.”
Zingarevich blames the situation on football factions who want him removed from the club’s management.
“You all remember well that the restrictions against me started when Botev began to reap the fruits of our labor, winning the Bulgarian Cup and intervening in the fight for the prize places in the football championship. Having carefully observed the ever-increasing media attacks since November, through the dissemination of outright lies and insinuations in certain media, today I am completely convinced of my claims,” Zingarevich shared.
“Realizing that there is no way to predict what else can be invented against me and my desire to develop Botev Plovdiv, while the possible and unclearly scheduled further investigation announced by the Chairman of the State Agency for the National Security, is ongoing, I have made the following decision.
“Wishing to change the management model of PFC Botev and clearly understanding that when only one person is responsible for a football institution of such magnitude in Bulgaria, it could easily be attacked and sabotaged, I decided to look for partners among you, the supporters of Botev Plovdiv, so that together we can continue to fight for its better future,” he continued.
“The dream of every football club and its supporting community is to achieve financial independence, directly linked to the participation of its supporters in its development. Such a management model will be a good example, proving that the symbiosis between business – large, medium and small, as well as the participation of every ordinary supporter, is possible, and this will generate additional trust, which is the most important condition for a club to grow successfully and securely over time.
“For this reason, I have decided to part with 30% of the shares of PFC Botev, giving each of you the opportunity to be involved in its future. The club has always followed its clearly formulated development strategy, the ultimate goal of which is to reach the point where it can be self-sustaining. Over the past four years, a huge amount of work has been done, thanks to which PFC Botev was adequately restructured and optimized, and in parallel with this, its financial results were improved. I believe that now is the right time for Botev Plovdiv to move to the next level, when its future will not depend on just one person, but on the entire community.”
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, at moc.l1743660301labto1743660301ofdlr1743660301owedi1743660301sni@o1743660301fni1743660301