Russian League Commissioner Iosif Zaytsev, CEO of JR Wellington Sports Management Gregory Wellington, and FC Dynamo Kemerovo Club President Sergei Turov held a press conference today officially announcing that FC Dynamo Kemerovo was being admitted into Russian League Division I. "It is with great pleasure today that I announce the Russian League's official expansion into Kemerovo" said Zaytsev. "The city, and this group in particular, has done a great deal over the past several months to get to the position that they are in today. We at the league office felt that this was a good move for both sides."
"I'm ecstatic" said a beaming Gregory Wellington. "We've wanted to expand into this market for some time and saw an opportunity eight months ago. Today's announcement is the result of months of hard work and planning, and I would like to thank our entire staff, both Dynamo Kemerovo and JR Wellington, for their dedication over this time. It is because of all of you that we were able to achieve this goal."
"I want to inform the football fans of Kemerovo that this will not be the end of our hard work" said Sergei Turov. "This is merely the first stage of our goal. We want to have a competitive football club in Russia, and we believe that we have the personnel in place to accomplish this goal. Mr. Wellington has only the highest expectations for us, and I have only the highest expectations for ourselves as well. I feel that will drive us to compete every year. This group has a proud and respected tradition, and I expect to fully uphold that."
About 500 fans gathered outside of Kemerovo Stadium to celebrate the news. "This is fantastic news" exclaimed one proud fan. "I cannot wait to witness the first kick. It will be something that I will never forget."
FC Dynamo Kemerovo now enters a hectic free agency period, and will participate in its first league match in just over two months time on the road against fellow new team Torn Banner. The debut home match for Kemerovo will be against Lokomotiv NN in week 2.