Embattled Ruch Radzionkow quits Polish league

Embattled Polish second-division club Ruch Radzionkow announced on Wednesday that they were withdrawing from the league after failing to solve their persistent money woes.

"Owing to the very difficult financial situation affecting the club and the impossibility of bridging the budget gap, the board of Ruch Radzionkow have taken the decision to pull out of the second division," an official statement said.

The board members also decided to resign at an extraordinary general meeting due to be held in two weeks' time.

Ruch, whose hometown Radzionkow lies in the southern industrial region of Silesia, finished last season ninth in Poland's 18-club second division despite ongoing problems with their coffers.

Founded in 1919, Ruch are one of Poland's oldest clubs.

They played in the top flight from 1998 to 2001, before sliding down to the fifth tier, then won back-to-back promotion from 2008 to 2010 to reach the second division.

It was not immediately clear whether a new club would take Ruch's place when the new season kicks off over the first weekend of August, nor whether they would themselves apply to join a district league.

The second division lost another club on Tuesday when the owner of fellow Silesian side GKS Katowice struck a controversial deal to buy the berth in the top flight held by Polonia Warsaw.

Under the accord, GKS and Polonia are to merge into a single club named KP Katowice that will take Polonia's place in the first division.

Polonia fans are enraged at the way the plug has been pulled on their 101-year-old club, while their GKS counterparts have also warned they will not support the new team.

Ironically, Ruch Radzionkow and GKS had been due to meet in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday, but it was called off on the eve of the match.