May 20 – Dusan Kerkez, the Bosnian coach in charge of financially-stricken Bulgarian outfit Botev Plovdiv, has announced he will leave the club at the end of the current season.
Players and staff of the two-time Bulgarian First League winners have not been paid their salaries regularly after the club’s Russian owner, Anton Zingarevich, was banned from entering the country – with no official reasoning announced by Bulgaria’s counter-intelligence agency SANS.
Zingarevich has been attempting to sell a 30% stake in the club over recent months, but that campaign to date has proved unsuccessful.
Now the club have been dealt a further blow as Kerkez, who is contracted to remain in Plovdiv for a further 12 months, is adamant that he will leave his contract early, forgoing his final years’ salary in the process.
“I have long decided that I will leave Botev at the end of the season. If I can help the club in any way, it is that I do not want to be paid my salary for the remaining year of my contract,” Kerkez stated.
The Bosnian, speaking following his club’s defeat to Spartak Varna on Sunday, also discussed the worrying financial situation across Bulgarian football, insisting that “four or five” clubs are currently not paying their players and staff on time.
“The situation in Bulgarian football is sad. Spartak Varna players and staff have not received salaries since January, we also have problems,” Kerkez explained.
“Many teams have such problems. What we see is something normal for Bulgarian football, and the situation stresses no one. I think it is shameful.
“Someone else needs to change the situation. It is sad and shameful. I know what the situation is in our team. I know five other teams where the players are not receiving their salaries on time.”
Contact the writer of this story, Alex Krassimirov, at moc.l1747776116labto1747776116ofdlr1747776116owedi1747776116sni@o1747776116fni1747776116