Gas firm buys Krylya Sovetov

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Itera, Russia’s third-largest gas company, has bought Russian UEFA Cup qualifiers Krylya Sovetov Samara. Itera are prepared to pay off the Premier League club’s debt of approximately US$50m and pay US$5m for the club itself. “New investors are on their way to Krylya and represent big companies which I hope will continue our common cause and will lead Krylya to a new level,” club President, Geman Tkachenko said in a statement.

Tkachenko, 35, is a close friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, and has been at the club’s helm for six years. He had been working as vice-president of Siberian Aluminum (now Basic Element), which is headed by Oleg Deripaska. Tkachenko owns 75% of the club, while the local government is in possession of 25%. Earlier

this year Tkachenko asked the authorities for financial help but the Russian Football Union (RFU) barred the club from buying new players until it paid all its debts, while the tax authorities searched its headquarters. To pay the arrears Tkachenko went on a selling spree and reached a deal to sell Russian international midfielder

Andrey Karyaka to Portuguese club Benfica. Last season Krylya Sovetov clinched third place in the domestic league for the first time and are set to made their debut in UEFA Cup this year. Its management controls Itera, with President Igor Makarov holding 46% of the shares and vice president Valery Otchetsev holding 7%. Foreign investors own 13%.