Penza, 28 August 2017. PenzaNews. Football players of the Penza club Zenit, which competes in the Russian football championship among second division teams of the group "Centre", have not received salary for about three months. This was reported by the team's chief coach Artem Kulikov.

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Commenting on the club's defeat in a match against the Moscow team Ararat, he stressed that he had no complaints against the players.

"The thing is that we have a difficult financial situation that is why I would like to take an opportunity to turn to leaders of the region and, in particular, to the head of the club and to say that the situation must be changed. [...] The players have not received salary for three months, which resulted in certain food issues. Therefore, I would like to see some changes in this regard in the near future. [...] In fact, no one takes care of the team at the moment," Artem Kulikov said at the press conference that was held after the game between Zenit and Ararat on Sunday, August 27.

He noted that team results depended on many factors.

"The most important thing is that the players must receive salary for their work because they have families, relatives and friends. [...] For my part, as a chief coach I cannot help holding back such things. The situation has remained unchanged for a very long period of time – for about three months," the Zenit's coach added.

Artem Kulikov stressed that despite all difficulties, the players did their best at the trainings.

He reported that the football players had an opportunity to influence the situation in a form of an ultimatum.
"We did not do this," he summed up.