Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, had proposed to the organizers of the 2011 "Footballer of the Year" poll to declare this year's vote invalid or give the title to the winner in the Best Young Footballer category.

Borisov has sent a letter to sports journalists and football fans, after it was revealed he has ranked first in the list of 20 nominees for the title in the fans' vote.

Enrolled in "Vitosha" (Bistritsa) Borisov finished with 3 501 votes, leaving behind the country's top football star "Manchester United" striker and seven-time winner of the title Dimitar Berbatov with 1 955 votes (24%).

In the letter, the PM thanks for the nomination in such prestigious poll.

"To me this fans' vote, ranking me first, is a protest vote – it is a sign not that Borisov is the best football player, but that Bulgarian football is in desperate need of reforms and a new policy to improve one of the most popular and beloved sports in the country," he writes.

According to Borisov, he had followed for an entire month all comments on the issue and found with sorrow that when his name is mentioned anything turns into politics. This, he says, had replaced the very essence of the poll and Bulgarian football fans and the sport would not benefit from such debate.

"I never hid my passion for football in particular - as a spectator and fan. I will continue actively to seek sponsors for Bulgarian football teams and to put the sport as one of the priorities of the State. Finally – as a man who was coach of the national karate team, I can make the difference between professional and amateur game in sports. Bulgarian football and sports have faced serious challenges - lack of funds, exodus of sponsors," Borisov says in the letter.

The awards ceremony is scheduled for December 23 in the hotel complex "Tsarsko Selo" (King's Village) in the outskirts of Sofia. The top three will receive a gold, silver and bronze ball respectively, while the winner of the title will also get a special cup.

Last Friday, Borisov declared he was not delighted by the fact he is leading in the country's football player of the year poll, contradicting earlier statements he was happy about it and deserved to get the title.