By Alexander Krassimirov
September 26 – The construction of the Hristo Botev stadium in Plovdiv has restarted with the backing of the local city government. In July, construction work at the stadium was frozen after club owner Tsvetan Vasilev’s Corporate Commercial Bank was closed.
The club had been granted the Hristo Botev stadium on a 35-year concession and had announced plans to invest BGN 20 million (€10.1 million) on its redevelopment.
Currently Vasilev is under arrest in Belgrade and if he returns to Bulgaria, will likely remain under arrest while prosecutors decide on any pre-trial detention measures.
But the Botev football club continues. “Under one form or another we fulfill the commitment that we made. We had held talks with the municipality and personally with the Mayor Ivan Totev. We explained to them that the club is in difficult position and received the necessary understanding from them. We were committed to resume construction of the stadium when we find means,” said Botev CEO Angel Paliiski.
About 25 workers resumed work on the repair of the stadium. “So far, these workers are adequate for the construction that has taken place. There are firms ready to put in more workers, if necessary,” added Paliiski.
“It is clear that the original terms of the project will not be met. The club is in a delicate situation. At present one of the stands will not be done,” he said.
Paliiski said that next year Botev could still play their home games at the Hristo Botev stadium as the replacement stadium in Komatevo district is too small to accommodate fans. “This is one of the problems we have and are trying to solve.”
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