Source: Daily_Mail
New Olympiakos boss Ketsbaia eyes Derbyshire signing
While one former Newcastle legend has made a less-than-convincing transition from pitch to dugout, cult hero Temuri Ketsbaia will be leading Greek double winners Olympiakos into the Champions League next season.
And the first task for the Gerogian who impressed with Cypriots Anorthosis in the Champions League this season will be trying to sign permanently Matt Derbyshire from Blackburn.
Derbyshire impressed after joining the Greeks on loan in January, scoring eight goals in 13 matches, including two in the Greek Cup final victory over AEK Athens. Olympiakos are preparing to re-open talks with Rovers over signing the 23-year-old.
Ketsbaia, 41, resigned from his post at Anorthosis in April after helping the club become the first from Cyprus to reach the Champions League group stage, defeating Olympiakos in the third qualifying round.
They were unfortunate to finish bottom of their group despite accumulating four points with two draws against Werder Bremen, a draw with Inter Milan and a defeat of Panathinaikos.
Olympiakos president Sokratis Kokkalis said: 'Mr Ketsbaia is a young and ambitious person who will achieve the club's objectives. He has the qualifications and we will support him with all the resources possible.
'He is someone that knows Greek football very well and in our view we should all give him the support he needs in order for him to achieve success.'
Ketsbaia replaces Ernesto Valverde, who failed to agree terms on a contract extension with the club despite guiding the Red and Whites to their 14th domestic double.
