No more Money for Anzhi to spend, Eto, Zhirkov to look for new Clubs

Anzhi Makhachkala’s star players were facing a search for new clubs Wednesday after billionaire owner Suleiman Kerimov decided to drastically cut the side’s budget and scale down its ambitions.

Stars including Cameroon captain Samuel Eto’o, Brazil’s Willian and Russian international Yury Zhirkov could all be looking for new clubs after oligarch Kerimov ordered a drastic change in strategy.

Kerimov took over the club at the heart of the restive Russian republic of Dagestan in January 2011 and ploughed huge funds into a bid to turn the side into serious contenders for European honours.

“The leadership of Anzhi has taken a decision to work out a new long term strategy for development of the club,” Anzhi said in a statement, adding that the “budgetary parameters” would be changed.

“We need to admit that the steps taken to achieve the maximum sporting results in the shortest time by buying expensive players did not lead to success,” it added.

Anzhi has yet to comment on changes in players or management but Russian media said that among the first changes would be the appointment of former boss Gadzhi Gadzhiev as new manager.

This would bring to an end the brief reign of Dutch manager Rene Meulensteen, a former assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, who took over from countryman predecessor Guus Hiddink just two weeks ago.