Bulgarian side Botev Plovdiv Owner Tsvetan Vasilev has "withdrawn" from the club, according to Alexander Krassimirov of INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL. The majority shareholder at the "troubled" Corp. Commercial Bank is "transferring his assets in Botev Plovdiv to fans group Association Botev." Vasilev is "wanted by the Bulgarian Prosecutor's Office" and is currently in Serbia, where he was arrested. He has "donated 51% of his shareholding to the fans." Vasilev said that he "regretted that he was not able to complete his 'job at Botev.'" With his entry there were "ambitions for a major restructuring of the club," based around the core assets of its players and their value in the transfer markets. The club "had also negotiated the Hristo Botev stadium on concession for 35 years" and announced plans to further invest BGN 20M ($10.9M). The collapse of the Corp. Commercial Bank has "put an end to those plans with the removal of Vasilev's ability to finance the club and his plans." Association Botev President Apostol Apostolov said after Vassilev's withdrawal that the main goal facing the organization is to "find an investor." He said there was "no concern for the future of Botev." Apostolov: "Finding the investor cannot happen for a day or two. I urge the fans and players should not worry about the future of Botev. We will solve tasks one by one" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 3/24).
