KRASNODAR, Russia, March 26 (R-Sport) - Russian top-flight football club FC Kuban denied Friday that it was in the grip of financial problems, following a claim by a fans' group that the team could be on the cusp of closure.
Kuban enjoyed their best ever season last year, finishing fifth in the Russian Premier League and qualifying for the Europa League, but are 10th in the 16-team RPL this season, without a win since November.
Greenmile, the club's main independent fan group, alleged on its website Thursday that Kuban could fail to complete the season due to financial problems after majority investor Oleg Mkrtchan's businesses in Ukraine were allegedly disturbed by the political crisis there.
Those claims "have nothing in common with objective reality" and the club is paying all players and staff on time, Kuban said in a letter to fans obtained by R-Sport.
Metals tycoon Mkrtchan owns 75 percent of Kuban, with the remaining shares held by the Krasnodar Region government. He also funds Ukrainian club Metallurg Donetsk.
Deputy regional governor Ivan Peronko said unspecified "problems" had arisen in relation to Mkrtchan, and that the state had stepped up its financing of the club in response.
"Taking into account the problems that have arisen for Kuban's main shareholder, we, the administration of the region, have allocated our tranche [of funding] in advance," he told R-Sport. "The club is being financed completely and has no debts."
The allegations posted by Greenmile are "completely untrue information" and a "provocation," Peronko added.
Kuban are next in action against cross-town rivals FC Krasnodar in the league on Sunday.
