[Railroad]

New year, new thread.

So far there is not a lot to tell. Most clubs look to cut all unnecessary spendings and get rid of the most expensive players so probably the level of football will drop a little bit. As the squads may change dramatically it is very difficult to predict who will challenge for the title this year. It isn't actually clear which teams will participate in the top flight competition. It should be Ekranas, FBK, Vėtra, Sūduva, Žalgiris, Atlantas, Šiauliai and Tauras, but Žalgiris' future is still very much in doubt and other clubs may well have problems too as taxes were increased and sponsors reducing their financial support too.

 

[Railroad]

So, if Žalgiris or Tauras (or any other team) would fail to meet the requirements for A lyga license Banga or FC Vilnius would likely replace them as the authorities want to keep the number of eight teams in the top flight.

 

[Railroad]

FC Vilnius gave up their professional status.

 

[Railroad]

Ekranas, Sūduva and Šiauliai have secured their A lyga licences.

 

[Railroad]

FBK Kaunas, Vėtra, Atlantas and Tauras have secured A lyga licences.

No Žalgiris in A lyga this year...

 

[Railroad]

This Thursday was a strange day in Lithuanian football.

To make things clear I will start with brief review of last several months. As Žalgiris' owner is imprisoned in Moscow, legendary club didn't have any money in the last eight months. The players (they were not payed) played until the end of the season. Žalgiris manager Mindaugas Čepas (he has a green and white heart it seems) organized training sessions by himself as nobody from board seemed to show any interest in the club. Žalgiris didn't have any contracts with players but played friendly matches and had quite good squad.

Things couldn't last forever this way and in late February the inevitable happened. Žalgiris failed to secure A lyga licence, withdrew from appeal process and decided to go for I lyga (second division) licence instead. To make things more complicated Žalgiris fans and manager created their own club called Žalgiris. Technically it is a new club, but this "new" Žalgiris have the same fans, same players, same manager and, as they say, the same soul. The problem is that soul doesn't mean much for officials and new Žalgiris were denied A lyga license and as for now are not allowed to participate in A lyga without licence. The board of "old" Žalgiris were not satisfied with that and officials of two clubs, well, let's say don't like each other.

Without players, fan's support and with owner imprisoned "old" Žalgiris looked doomed to fail to secure I lyga licence and then, most probably, declare bankruptcy. But the saga took the most unlikely twist today as "old" Žalgiris secured their I lyga licence, despite having no senior players, money and it isn't clear what stadium they intend to use. So the tale of two Žalgiris clubs (one have manager, squad, fans and sponsors, other debts, licence and is formally the real Žalgiris) continues.

But even this complicated story was overshadowed today. The thing is that there are strong rumours that FBK Kaunas, the most succesful Lithuanian club in the last decade decided in board meeting today to quit A lyga for I lyga. The reasons for that are unknown (financial, owner's personal or some other), but something should be very wrong if the club want's to relegate itself. It is expected that FBK board will make an official statement tomorrow and make the things clear.

 

[Graz]

:doh:

What's happend finally??

 

[Railroad]

FBK and Atlantas declared they are moving to I lyga, Vėtra's future hangs in the balance.

But I refrain from making any conclusive statements. This story may still have some twists and turns in it.

 

[Railroad]

A lyga will be organized by Lithuanian Football Federation.

The participants list and all other good things should be decided next Friday.

That's a REAL mess.

 

[Graz]

very strange:rollani:

I hope zalgiris in A lyga :thumbsup:

 

[Railroad]

It should be revealed today which teams will participate in this season's A lyga.

According to unofficial sources the situation is:

Ekranas, Vėtra, Sūduva, Šiauliai and Tauras all want to play in A lyga and all will.

Žalgiris would like to play in A lyga but should reach an agreement with new investors (bank Snoras, owned by Russian Konversbank) first.

FBK Kaunas denied there is any chance of them participating in A lyga.

Atlantas declared their participation is highly unlikely.

I lyga teams Banga and Kruoja declared they would like to play in A lyga. Alytis, LKKA ir Teledema and Nevėžis are unsure, Šilutė and Lietava rejects the possible move to top flight. Glestum and Mažeikiai have theoretical chances if there won't be eight teams to play in A lyga from all I've mentioned above.

 

[Graz]

With no FBK in A lyga this year (Atlantas and Silute are also FBK reserve-team), Romanovas is out of lithuanian football? It's a good news or no?

 

[Railroad]

Well, unless the saga takes another late twist, the participants are:

A lyga 2009

Ekranas (Panevėžys)
Vėtra (Vilnius)
Sūduva (Marijampolė)
Šiauliai
Tauras (Tauragė)
Banga (Gargždai)
LKKA ir Teledema (Kaunas)
Kruoja (Pakruojis)

I lyga 2009

Žalgiris (Vilnius)
Šilutė
Alytis (Alytus)
Lietava (Jonava)
Nevėžis (Kėdainiai)
Glestum (Klaipėda)
Mažeikiai

FBK Kaunas and Atlantas didn't get the permission to participate in I lyga and can only enter II lyga (third tier).

 

[Railroad]

My early predictions for A lyga would be:

Ekranas - champions
Vėtra and Sūduva - challengers
Tauras - dark horse
Šiauliai and Banga - mid-table
LKKA and Kruoja - relegation candidates

 

[Graz]

Thankxx railroad

Can you tell more about the reason of the fall of FBK and atlantas?

 

[Railroad]

The simple explanation would be that Romanov wanted more executive power (the right to select the referees for example) for National Football Club Association ruled by his right hand Ugianskis. Lithuanian Football Federation was never going to agree so Romanov came up with the plan to destroy this season's A lyga, harm Federation's president Varanavičius' chances to be elected into UEFA executive committee (he was elected yesterday) and harm his chances to be re-elected to Federation president post. With Žalgiris close to the bankruptcy and Federation's strict licence policy it seemed that if FBK, Atlantas (who are sponsored and hence controled by Romanov) and Vėtra (whose stadium is in pawn at Romanov's controlled bank) would all withdraw from A lyga that would put Federation into a lose-or-lose situation. They should either organize top flight competition with 4 teams or pray the rebels to come back and make some consessions. Thankfully, it all didn't work.

First of all Vėtra were not so keen to withdraw from A lyga and despite admitting in public that they had withdrawal document prepared they kept their options to themselves and eventually decided to stay in A lyga. Secondly, and even more important, Federation simply decided to kill their own holy cow - the licence policy hence allowing lower league sides to play in the top flight and putting FBK and Atlantas into real trouble. There still was a way back as Varanavičius said that Federation would acquire rebels to A lyga if they would express their desire to play here. But FBK and Atlantas continued to blame Federation of being corrupt (that was the formal reason for FBK and Atlantas to withdraw from A lyga though they showed no evidence of that) and destroying Lithuanian football and refused to surrender (though it seems that Atlantas would have been glad to go back, but their connections with FBK are just too strong) and the rest is history. A lyga and I lyga participants' lists were formed, FBK and Atlantas were expelled from league (don't know the formal reason but at this point it doesn't matter too much) and well... They most definitely lost this battle.

 

[Graz]

Thanks for the answer!

Romanov:frustrat:

It's a dramatical lose for the A lyga level this year, but without romanovit may be a hope for a better future!!

My predictions:

1) Ekranas
2) Vetra
3) Suduva
4) Tauras
5) Siauliai
6) Banga
7) Kruoja
8) LKKA

I hope Zalgiris back in A Lyga next year:thumbsup:

 

[Railroad]

The rumours are that FBK and Atlantas may still return to A lyga before the start of this competition this weekend.

 

[Graz]

Round 1
[Apr 04, Sat]
16.00 Vetra - LKKA
16.00 Suduva - Banga
16.00 Siauliai - Tauras
19.00 Ekranas - Kruoja

 

[Graz]

Transfers.2009

Ekranas Panevezys

In: Stephen Ademolu ("Lov-Ham", Nor), Povilas Šarūnas (Klaipėdos "Atlantas"), Egidijus Majus (Sankt Peterburgo "Zenit", Rus)

Out: Laurynas Rimavičius (Pavlodaro "Irtyš", Kaz), Alfredas Skroblas (Marijampolės "Sūduva"), Andrius Šidlauskas and Vitalijus Kavaliauskas (Mikaševičių "Granit", Blr).

Vetra Vilnius

In: Marius Šalkauskas, Denis Gordej, Viktor Pašin, Algirdas Breikštas, Artūras Žulpa, Tadas Eliošius, Tomas Statkevičius, Marius Stanaitis, Vilius Zabarauskas, Gediminas Kruša (all "Fc Vilnius") Aleksandr Volodin, Nikolaj Mašitšev, Artiom Dmitriev (all Talino TVMK, Est), Georgij Bočev. (Tornion Pallo-47, Fin)

Out: Anatolie Ostap ("Gabala", Azer), Evaldas Razulis, Marius Kazlauskas (all Klaipėdos "Atlantas"), Vaidas Žutautas ("Banga"), Virmantas Lemežis, Edvinas Blažys, Gediminas Butavičius, Gjoko Cvetanovski, Marek Andraščik.

Suduva Mariampolje

In: Eivinas Zagurskas, Brunas Biskys, Ernestas Biskys, Povilas Krasnovskis (all "Fc Vilnius"), Giedrius Klevinskas ("Šilutė"), Alfredas Skroblas ("Ekranas"), Mantas Samusiovas ("Chimki", Rus)

Out: Darius Maciulevičius, Giedrius Barevičius, Tomas Mikuckis, Thiago Caetano, Pedro Botelho, Bobi Božinovski (Skopjės "Rabotnički", Mac) Sergei Kozyuberda ("Charkov", Ukr), Ivans Lukjanovs (Rygos "Skonto", Lat), Karolis Jasaitis ( "Tauras"), Darius Tamašauskas ("Banga")

Siauliai

In: Rolandas Slepakovas (Kėdainių "Nevėžis"), Eimantas Marozas ("Šilutė")

Out: Intars Kirhners (Liepojos "Metalurgs", Lat), Nauris Bulvitis (Ventspilio "Tranzits", Lat), Viktor Raskov ("Kruoja"), Ingus Lukovičs, Anatolijus Anisimenko

Tauras Taurage

In: Martynas Matuzas, Paulius Smaryginas ("Kauno jėgeriai"), Robertas Freidgeimas ("Vilnius"), Arvydas Rudžionis (Kauno "Rodiklis"), Andrius Paulauskas (Plikių "Sakuona"), Andrius Puotkalis, Ernestas Šetkus, Tomas Sirevičius (all Vilniaus "Žalgiris"), Karolis Jasaitis (Marijampolės "Sūduva"), Bertrand Ngapounou ("Okžetpes" Kaz), Iulian Bursuc (Mogiliovo "Savit", Blr), Valerijus Mižigurskis ("Kaizar", Kaz), Jaunius Mockus

Out: Modestas Stonys (Narvos "Trans", Est), Marius Bezykornovas ("LKKA ir Teledema"), Aidas Fabijonas, Darius Artiomovas, Šarūnas Litvina

Banga

In: Marius Birškys, Rimantas Cepovas (all Kauno "Rodiklis"). Germanas Vaniuchinas (Salantų "Salantas"), Gytis Gailius (Klaipėdos "Atlantas"), Vaidas Žutautas ("Vėtra"), Darius Žutautas ("Ventspils", Lat), Egidijus Vaitkūnas ("Žalgiris"), Darius Tamašauskas ("Sūduva"), Awenayeri Douglas ("Atlantas"), Mindaugas Vijeikis

Out: Orestas Buitkus ("Isola Liri", Ita), Andrius Gedgaudas (Raino TSV, Ger), Tomas Rimas (Narvos "Trans", Est), Robertas Šmitas ("Šilutė"), Maksim Alilujev (Klaipėdos "Glestum"), Marsel Balasanov, Martynas Karalius, Nerijus Marcinkevičius, Paulius Ukrinas, Gediminas Zuberni

LKKA

In: Marius Bezykornovas ("Tauras"), Dainius Kunevičius (FBK "Kaunas"), Kostas Makarevičius ("Rodiklis"), Eisvinas Utyra (Jonavos "Lietava"), Donatas Bendinskas, Karolis Vasiliauskas, Vladas Petkevičius (all "Kauno Jėgeriai"), Paulius Ramanauskas (Kauno FM "Spyris"), Mantas Kaminas (Kelmės FK-VJSM), Mindaugas Grigaitis, Marius Žvirgždys (all Plungės "Babrungas"), Mantas Karčiauskas ("Prienai")

Out: Valentin Jeriomenko (Minsko "Lokomotiv", Baltarusija), Aurimas Ivaškevičius, Edvinas Sirius, Arminas Jonaitis, Gintaras Viskačka, Algis Butėnas

Kruoja

In: Kęstutis Mykolaitis (Kėdainių "Nevėžis"), Viktor Raskov ("Šiauliai"), Lauras Januševičius (Jonavos "Lietava"), Dalius Kišla (Šiaulių "Juventa-99), Virginijus Šimkus (Šiaulių "Aitvaras"), Mantas Uselis, Evaldas Gasiūnas

Out: Aurimas Leščinskas, Kęstutis Mordasas, Valdas Šimkūnas, Vaidas Garšvinskas

@futbolas.lt