Penza, 27 January 2015. PenzaNews. The funding reduction of Penza club “Zenit,” which is participating in the championship of Russia among the teams of the second division zone “Center,” will make the management reduce the costs for guest sportsmen, which in turn will give an opportunity to students of Penza football school to prove themselves, said Natalia Ozerova, chairman of the Committee on Physical Culture, Sports and Youth Policy of the city, in a comment on the words of Sergei Filippenkov, “Zenit” head coach, on the retreat of the team players.

“FC ‘Zenit’ budget in previous years allowed the team management to build the regular team staff of guest players. The proportion of Penza football school representatives amounted to around 25% of the regular team in the period from 2011 to 2014. It should be noted that non-resident athletes, being a high-class players, undoubtedly strengthened the team in all respects, but consequently increased the club costs associated with contractual obligations,” the agency interlocutor said.

According to Natalia Ozerova, the change in club financing may stimulate further development.

“On the one hand, the budget reduction in 2015 and following changes in contractual terms concerning wage cuts for nonresident players caused them to leave. On the other hand, budget cuts will push the club to reduce the costs associated with non-resident athletes and the need to form the club staff mostly with Penza football school representatives, financial demands of who are different, and the motivation to show themselves, their skills, professionalism is higher than that of guest players,” she said.

The chairman of the city sports committee stressed that, in any case, the team will exist and will continue performing in the Russian championship among the teams of the second division zone “Center.”

“The only thing to change will be the proportion of local and non-resident players in favor of the former,” Natalia Ozerova noted.

According to her, the amount of funds allocated from the city budget for the support of the Center for children's and youth football of FC “Zenit” and FC “Zenit” facilities will be retained at the 2014 level.

Earlier, Sergei Filippenkov, head coach of Penza football club “Zenit” said that Penza team budget 2015 amounted to 14 million rubles compared to 27 million rubles last year.

According to him, after the players have been offered new contract terms and conditions associated with wage cuts, some athletes decided to leave the team. Among them are the goalkeeper Ivan Smolkin; the defenders Alexander Korotkov, Evgeny Krug, Azat Bayryev and Vasily Mironik; the midfielders Rais Sitdikov, Evgeny Pesegov and Sergei Egorov; the forwards Evgeny Gavryuk and Yuri Rodenkov.