Lokomotiv dismiss Byshovets

Anatoli Byshovets has been dismissed as coach of FC Lokomotiv Moskva the day after they ended the Russian season in a lowest-ever position of seventh.

Double departure
The 61-year-old has been sacked with 12 months remaining on his contract, with Lokomotiv's president – and former coach – Yuri Semin also choosing to step down, saying: "I would like to say sorry to the fans for this season. I did not do enough for the club."

Mixed fortunes
Byshovets, who led the Soviet Union to footballing gold at the 1988 Olympics, was appointed at the close of the 2006 season. However, despite Lokomotiv being regarded as the second-wealthiest club in Russia, they have underperformed domestically. While they won the Russian Cup, their seventh-place finish was their worst since the foundation of the Russian league following independence in 1993.

Temporary appointment
Reserve-team coach Renat Bilyaletdinov – father of Russian international and Lokomotiv captain Diniyar Bilyaletdinov – will take charge of first-team affairs as the club seek a permanent replacement. Lokomotiv have two points after two UEFA Cup Group B games.