The news that the general director of Lokomotiv Vasily Kiknadze and the chairman of the board of directors Anatoly Meshcheryakov were leaving their posts appeared on the club's official website on Wednesday evening, December 23. 

It is reported that this decision was made at the general meeting of shareholders of JSC FC Lokomotiv.

A new composition of the board of directors was also elected there.

It includes Dmitry Bulykin, Yuri Nagornykh, Alexander Plutnik, Vladimir Pyastolov, Gennady Fadeev, Valery Filatov, Viktor Shendrik.

The body was headed by the Deputy Director General of Russian Railways Plutnik, who thanked Meshcheryakov and Kiknadze for the work.

“Under the chairmanship of Anatoly Meshcheryakov, Lokomotiv won many titles, he left the board in connection with the transition to a new job.

In addition, I want to say gratitude to Kiknadze, who did a lot in terms of optimizing intra-club management processes, as well as for his participation in the reconstruction projects of the base in Bakovka and the branch of the Academy in Perovo, "the official website of FC Lokomotiv quotes Plutnik.

At the same time, the bronze medalist of the 1994 Russian Championship with Lokomotiv Vladimir Leonchenko became the new general director of the club.

Member of the Board of Directors of CSKA and former footballer of "Torpedo"

Information that Kiknadze is more likely to leave the capital's team appeared in the media a few hours before the official announcement.

So, according to Sport-Express, the functionary announced his imminent departure from the club and said goodbye to the employees during the meeting, which was held online. 

And on Tuesday it was reported that Meshcheryakov could also leave Lokomotiv in connection with the transition to public service.

The appointment of Plutnik to his place was to some extent a surprise, because in April he joined the board of directors of another Moscow club - CSKA.

As reported on the official website of the Russian Railways, the manager deals with "issues of corporate management of subsidiaries and dependent companies, management and disposal of property." 

Previously, Plutnik had nothing to do with sports.

He started his career in the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation - in the Department of Support of Priority National Projects of the Expert Directorate.

Later he was appointed Secretary of State - Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Communal Services of the Russian Federation.

From 2015 to 2020, he held the post of General Director of DOM.RF JSC. 

As for Leonchenko, in the past he built a rather successful football career.

In the top division of the Russian championship, Vladimir played 282 games.

Leonchenko defended the colors of the railway workers throughout the year (from 1994 to 1995) and managed to work under the leadership of Yuri Syomin.

But most of his career, six years, the midfielder gave to the irreconcilable rival of the railway workers "Torpedo".

After finishing his career, he worked for a long time in the trade union of Russian footballers and coaches, where he held the positions of member, chairman of the council and executive director. 

As another possible replacement for Kiknadze, the surname of the director of FC Chertanovo acting in the FNL Nikolai Larin was named.

He has been holding a leading position in the Moscow team since 2008.

During this time, the club has made considerable progress: it has acquired a professional status and has trained a number of players for RPL clubs (Anton Zinkovsky, Nail Umyarov, Alexander Zuev, Maxim Glushenkov and others). 

Moreover, according to the well-known sports journalist Alexei Andronov, head coach Marko Nikolic, who took over the leadership of Lokomotiv in May, may also leave his post.

Moreover, according to Andronov, his place is ready to take the former coach of "Spartak" Massimo Carrera, who on Tuesday was fired from the Greek AEK.

“They announced.

This should worry Nikolic most of all.

Carrera in Loko is actively lobbying an agent close to him, Timur Gurtskaya.

The chances are very high, ”Andronov wrote in his Telegram channel.

It is also reported that the amount of the penalty for the Serb is about € 700 thousand ("salary for 12 months"), which the club will have to pay to the coach in case of early termination of the contract.   

"In the place of the leaders of Russian Railways, I would suggest that Semin return"

Kiknadze joined the directors of Lokomotiv in 2013, and at the end of December 2018 became the CEO, replacing Ilya Gerkus.

In this post, the functionary was remembered mainly for conflicts with Yuri Semin and fans, who did not forgive him for refusing to renew the agreement with an experienced coach.

By the way, the 73-year-old specialist himself did not leave the news about the possible departure of the former boss without comment.   

“I'm not surprised by anything.

Those who have done their job poorly are fired.

Everything is natural.

Is my return to Lokomotiv possible?

They will call - I will go, if they will not call - I will not go.

That's all, "- quotes Semin" Sports day after day. " 

In turn, the ex-president of Lokomotiv Nikolay Naumov called for the return of the legendary coach to the team.

“In the place of the leaders of Russian Railways, I would suggest that Semin return.

At the first stage, he would head Loko and gradually select all the pupils' teams for the coaching staff, "Eurofootball quotes Naumov as saying.

Finally, the former sports director of Lokomotiv, Eric Stoffelshaus, admitted that at the moment he does not see a "clear strategy" in the club's work.

“I only hear conversations, but I don't notice things.

It will be a difficult season for Loko, - Sport24 quotes Stoffelshaus.

The German also admitted that the appointment of Nikolic as head coach in May surprised him.

“I don’t know him personally and I don’t have much to say about his coaching qualities.

But I must admit: I was a little surprised when Nikolic was announced as the new coach of Loko.

I think it is important for a large club to have a coach with extensive experience, whether in Russia or in the top 5 leagues in Europe.

Also, do not forget: it is always difficult to come to the place of a club legend, ”added Stoffelshaus.