October 16: Bulgarian Premier League club Lokomotiv Plovdiv has been plunged into a major financial crisis after long-time majority owner Hristo Krusarski officially stepped down from running the club and ended all financial support.
The decision comes after years of growing tension between Krusarski and the club’s supporters, who had repeatedly protested and called for his resignation.
Krusarski announced that he is willing to surrender his shares to any viable buyer willing to take control, but his exit was not easy, as he immediately repossessed the team’s official bus, a vehicle registered under his personal ownership. He then ceded the bus to the lower level Rilski Sportist Samokov.
Lokomotiv supporters and club staff quickly organized a replacement to keep team operations running smoothly.
To cover the day-to-day operating expenses and ensure the club’s immediate survival, the fan association ‘Magic of Plovdiv’ launched a fundraising campaign in close coordination with the club’s management.
The initiative will fund two dedicated bank accounts. One is focused on maintaining the youth academy and the other on covering the essential costs of the first team until a new long-term investor is secured.
Supporters responded instantly and raised over €35,000 in the first two days of the campaign’s launch. The club’s management expressed gratitude for the community’s overwhelming effort, promising full financial transparency and detailed regular accounting as they rely on ticket sales and donations to guide Lokomotiv Plovdiv through a transition period.
Contact the writer of this story, Aleksander Krassimirov, a (email protected)
