By David Gold
January 30 – Tom Tomsk are set to be saved after Gazprom and Rosneft stepped in to help the ailing Russian Premier League side, following pressure from Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Tomsk are struggling to stay afloat amid mounting debts, having also narrowly avoided bankruptcy in 2009 and the regional Government, their main sponsor, recently withdrew funding, compounding the situation.
Viktor Kress, the governor of Tomsk, told the NIA Tomsk news agency: “The decision has been taken to instruct two companies, Gazprom Neft and Rosneft, through Tomskneft – a joint venture – to protect the Tom football club.
“I’ve already given the instruction, we’ve started work.”
Management at the club will be changed completely, while the ownership of their stadium would be transferred to the city’s Government.
Tomsk were recently banned from signing players due to their precarious financial situation.
Putin reiterated his wish for the club to be rescued earlier this week, saying: “It’s my personal wish that the club exists, that people enjoy themselves by going to the stadium rather than getting drunk on vodka.”
The Russian Prime Minister stepped in to save the struggling club when they faced similar problems three years ago.
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