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Pakruojo "Kruoja" can disappear from the country's football map. In the 2012 season, the residents of Pakruojis achieved a record high, fourth place in Lithuania.
Goals not achieved
According to the president of "Kruoja," Linas Kubilickas, there is a 50 percent chance that the Pakruojis team will disappear.
"In the last eight years, the team has never achieved its set goals. I'm starting to think if it's worth trying for a ninth time," - the president of "Kruoja" identified this as the main reason.
Before the 2012 season, club leaders loudly spoke about one goal - winning medals. Until the awards, the residents of Pakruojis lacked a step - "Kruoja" in the A league won 65 points and took the fourth place. The residents of Pakruojis, who won bronze medals, lagged five points behind.
In the opinion of L. Kubilickas, the team lost points playing against average teams.
The fate will be revealed in 2013
According to the president of "Kruoja," this year, the budget of the Pakruojis team was higher than last year. According to L. Kubilickas, a lot of personal funds were invested in the "Kruoja" club founded in January 2001. Smaller sponsors also helped.
The president of "Kruoja" is categorical: either he will remain the president of the club, or he will completely withdraw from it.
"My departure does not mean the end of the team. Life does not end there. Perhaps more attention will be paid by the municipality. Maybe the team will play in the I, II, or even the highest league," L. Kubilickas said.
He is not enthusiastic about the chance to play in the UEFA Europa League qualifying tournament. The medal-less "Kruoja" can enter it if Panevezys "Ekranas" and Vilnius "Zalgiris" play in the final of the Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF) Cup.
"The chance is very uncertain. We may play, we may not. It will only become clear in May, and preparation for the season needs to start from January," said L. Kubilickas.
According to him, the fate of "Kruoja" will be revealed at the beginning of 2013.
Conspiracy theories denied
"Kruoja" lost the chances of winning medals in the penultimate round when they played 1:1 away with Marijampole "Suduva".
The last round match with Panevezys "Ekranas" did not change anything. Midweek, "Kruoja" played against Panevezys in the quarterfinals of the LFF Cup. There were reports in the media that the residents of Pakruojis had agreed with the club from Panevezys - they would win the Cup match, but lose in the last round of the A league.
The conspiracy theories did not come true - "Kruoja" lost the doubtful match 0:2.
"No one offered me anything. It's like a joke," joked L. Kubilickas.
By winning against Ekranas in Pakruojis on Sunday, they won medals in the A league for the fifth year in a row. L. Kubilickas denied reports in the media that one of the main reasons for the withdrawal was that the club leaders no longer trusted their football players and suspected that four team leaders - Giedrius Slavickas, Donatas Petrauskas, Irmantas Zelmikas, and Tomas Miklinevicius - sold the match to Ekranas.
"It is said that in the locker room I said that those four players would pay the November salaries. It's complete nonsense. I haven't been in the locker room for five years. If there is anyone who saw me there, I will buy them a beer. The players are planning to go to court for such slander," L. Kubilickas said.
Players - slandered?
The players of "Kruoja" themselves deny the accusations of selling the match.
"It's nonsense. The club leadership also denies it," said the captain of "Kruoja," 30-year-old G. Slavickas.
According to him, after such accusations, they may have to end their careers: "You may not even want to try going anywhere, as no one will want to accept you. After such words, you turn yellow."
According to G. Slavickas, there were talks of "Kruoja's" disbandment even before the end of the season. The team is now on vacation and is waiting for calls from the Pakruojis team leaders. During this time, players may look for other teams.
According to G. Slavickas, contracts with all players have expired: "Players are always in demand."
Defending team mates
In the second half of Sunday's match against Ekranas, "Kruoja" forward Valdas Trakys could have equalized the score - his shot hit the crossbar.
Talk of selling matches is pure nonsense, fabrication. We all played, we fought. This hurt us even more after the unsuccessful end of the season. After that, you just want to rest," V. Trakys defended his teammates accused.
The contract of the 33-year-old forward with "Kruoja" has expired, but there is a possibility of extension.
The club president needs to build a monument. "Kruoja" is moving up, improving. Football is not a cheap toy. Businessmen calculate everything and know what they can and cannot do. Keeping a weak team doesn't make sense," V. Trakys said.
"Kruoja's" goalkeeper Gvidas Juska divided the chances of the team's fate differently than the president - 60 percent that the Pakruojis team will no longer exist.
If the team disbands, it will be very bad. Perhaps people are tired of investing in football," suggested the 30-year-old G. Juska.
Municipality will seek to keep "Kruoja"
The Pakruojis District Municipality contributed to "Kruoja" by providing a dormitory for footballers, where they lived rent-free and allowing free use of the sports base. The stadium was renovated with municipal funds - stands and an administrative building were built.
According to Justin Jasiukaitis, deputy director of the Pakruojis District Municipality administration, the municipality heard talks about a possible withdrawal of "Kruoja." In his opinion, for the municipality that glorifies the name of the district, the withdrawal of the team would be a great loss: "When we have a football team, Pakruojis is much livelier, people are more engaged, have somewhere to go. We noticed that there has been an increase in young people playing football even in villages."
According to the deputy director of the administration, the municipality will continue to support "Kruoja." If necessary, they will try to save "Kruoja," but they are not able to maintain it themselves. Officials will try to find sponsors, mediate between the club and businessmen.
LFF did not inform about the withdrawal
The LFF did not inform "Kruoja" about a possible withdrawal. "Talk is just talk. We found out everything from the media," said Nerijus Dunauskas, head of the LFF Competition and Events Division.
A few years ago, the teams "Kaunas" and "Atlantas" from the A league were not allowed to participate in the I league. They had to play in the II league. N. Dunauskas could not say what sanctions the LFF would take if "Kruoja" withdrew. Everything will be decided after receiving an official letter from the Pakruojis club.
N. Dunauskas also dismissed the version of buying and selling matches: "UEFA and FIFA constantly monitor the situation, an early warning system has been created. If something is revealed, I have never heard of it."
