Roman Abramovich cuts off Hiddink's Russia funding: Guus free to join Juve

14 January 2010 09:24
[LNB]Wanted: Hiddink[LNB]Roman Abramovich has stopped funding Guus Hiddink's £6.25million a year after  tax salary and the Russia boss has been told he is free to find another job.[LNB]Chelsea owner Abramovich had been picking up the bill in full through donations  from his National Academy of Football (NAF) to the Russian FA.[LNB]But it last night emerged that the agreement came to an end at the turn of the  year and NAF boss Sergey Kapkov said he was relaxed about reports that Hiddink  was being lined up to take over at Juventus.[LNB]'He is free to take any decision,' said Abramovich's closest ally in Russian  football.[LNB]The cash-strapped Russian FA would be prepared to let Hiddink join Juve or  return to Chelsea as their technical director if he took a pay cut on the rest  of his contract, which runs till July.[LNB]The Dutchman had been offered a two-year extension to stay in his post up to  Euro 2012, but the Russian FA would find it almost impossible to pay his wages without the help of Abramovich, at a time when they are also funding a bid to host  th 2018 or 2022 World Cup.[LNB] Misery: Pavlyuchenko sits dejected as Russia lose to Germany in October and set out on a path that would see them fail to qualify for the World Cup finals[LNB]The decision not to maintain funding comes after wrote off Chelsea's £340m  debts and the Barclays Premier League club announced they would be keeping a  tighter rein on their wage budget.[LNB]The Italian press have reported sightings of Hiddink in Turin this week, but  his agent denies this and insists there have been negotiations with no one  since Russia failed to qualify for the World Cup in November.[LNB]'As of now, Guus Hiddink is still 100 per cent Russia coach and we had not have  any contract talks with any of the clubs regardless of what the media,  especially the Italian media, says,' said Van Nieuwenhuizen.[LNB]'Guus has just came back from a holiday in Africa and we plan to meet this  Sunday to discuss the situation with regards to his future.' Hiddink, Abramovich and Kapkov have often been at odds with the Russian FA over  their differing views on how to take forward the game in Russia.[LNB] Shoulder to shoulder: Hiddink with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich (right)[LNB]The 63-year-old has been reluctant to make any decision about his future until  a new president is elected for the FA on February 3.[LNB]He is unlikely to want to stay on without an ally, but Kapkov surprisingly  decided against running in the election, giving Abramovich's rival Sergey  Fursenko no significant rival for the post.[LNB]Kapkov yesterday said the door was open to resume payments if Hiddink remained  and manager and said he planned face-to-face talks before the end of the month.[LNB]'We had an agreement that we would fund Guus Hiddink's contract until January  1, 2010,' said Kapkov. 'We paid everything and the question of the next salary  will be decided in February, when a new head of the FA is appointed.[LNB]'They must decide whether they want to keep Hiddink or appoint another coach.  If they need Hiddink, we must decide who pays for the contract.'[LNB] Former Chelsea boss Hiddink lined up to replace Juventus flop Ciro Ferrara IAN RIDLEY: Smarten up, Carlo, or risk becoming a fashion victim[LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail