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Vladimir Romanov's Edinburgh "Hearts" football club warns fans that the club may not survive until the end of the month after receiving a bill for 450,000 pounds sterling (almost 2 million litas).
The club has issued a plea for support from fans to avoid liquidation. "This is not a bluff or a panic, this is already reality. If we do not receive help from the fans, there is a high probability that 'Hearts' will play their last game on November 17," - the club's statement reads.
The latest bill that the club must pay is not related to the previous amount of 1.74 million pounds sterling (7.5 million litas), which the club is still trying to challenge.
The bills consist of unpaid profit and value-added taxes. If the club does not pay within eight days, the court will issue a liquidation order for the club.
The owner of the Edinburgh club is Lithuanian banker Vladimir Romanov, but the club's statement says, "It is not worth discussing whose name is on the door or talking about how money was spent and whether investments were wise. Right now, we need the help of all supporters. For the past seven years, the club has been funded by the 'Ukio Bank Investment Group' and we continue this cooperation, but no business is immune to the current economic situation. Therefore, the club must now rely on its supporters."
Currently, the Edinburgh team, represented by Marius Žaliūkas and Arvydas Novikovas, has 13 points after 12 rounds and occupies 9th place out of 12 teams.
V. Romanov also owns the Kaunas "Žalgiris" basketball team.
