Two more players leave Arsenal Kyiv
Arsenal Kyiv goalkeeper Yuriy Pankiv and defender Volodymyr Poliovy have signed three-year contracts with Metalurh Donetsk.
"Both players signed three-year contracts with Metalurh Donetsk. We hope that they will strengthen competition in our team, as both of them are skilled players. Yuriy Pankiv will join the team in Turkey tonight [on January 16] and Volodymyr Poliovy tomorrow [on January 17]," Metalurh's sports director, Vardan Israelian, said in an interview with the club's press service on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old Poliovy moved to Arsenal in 2010 from Metalurh Zaporizhia. He played 199 games in the Ukrainian Premier League, scoring two goals. He also played five matches for Ukraine's national football team.
The 28-year-old Pankiv moved to Arsenal in June 2012 from Oleksandriya. He played 41 matches In the Ukrainian Premier League.
As reported, on January 14, Arsenal Kyiv captain Maksim Shatskikh signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Chornomorets Odesa. On January 9, midfielder Artem Starhorodsky also moved from Arsenal to Chornomorets.
On January 8, Arsenal Kyiv President Vadym Rabynovych said that the club could cease to exist on January 20. He said he saw three possible options to resolve the problem: 1) to offer players to revise contracts, increase the presence of young players in the team and release about five high-priced players as free agents, 2) give the club to another owner by January 20 and to the team that will be able to resolve problems, 3) possible support from representatives of the Kyiv authorities, primarily administrative support.
On January 10, the club's press service reported that the club's management and players were united in their desire to save the club.
"A working group led by team captain Maksim Shatskikh has been formed, and it will analyze all aspects of the situation and take a respective decision by January 20. Arsenal's administration and its players are united in their desire to save the club. Time will tell whether this happens or not," the club said in a statement.