MOSCOW, July 9 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Premier League side Tom Tomsk are pinning their hopes for survival on the Kremlin.
Tom Tomsk, Europe's most easterly top flight side, are in deep financial trouble after regional authorities cut funding for the club amid the ongoing economic crisis. Attempts to find alternative sponsors have yet to bear fruit and officials have said there is a real danger the club could go out of business.
The club has debts of some $6 million, including around $2 million in wages arrears.
Tom Tomsk general director Yury Stepanov and Russian Premier League chief Sergei Prydkin held a meeting with the team on Thursday in the capital, where the side is training for its weekend match against Lokomotiv Moscow, the club said on its official website.
Stepanov informed the team that the club was expecting a reply in the near future from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to a request from sports minister Vitaly Mutko to provide support for the side.
He also told the players that the club was ready to consider transfer bids for any team member.
So far, 11 Russian clubs have gone under during the economic crisis. However, Tom would be the first top-flight side to go bust.
