Kaunas continue to strengthen

By Kestutis Gimbutas

With the 2005 championship not starting until the spring, title-holders FBK Kaunas have kept busy in the transfer market.

Česnauskis move
Deividas Česnauskis made a sensational move to Kaunas from Russian champions FC Lokomotiv Moskva in order to play first-team football (despite his contract with the Premier-Liga club not expiring until 2007). Česnauskis signed a three-year deal but was immediately loaned to Scottish team Heart of Midlothian FC until the end of their Premier League season.

Mikoliunas impresses
The 23-year-old joins compatriots Mariusu Kižysu and Saulius Mikoliunas who are also on loan at Hearts. Mikoliunas has already impressed, scoring his first goal last Sunday in a 3-0 win against Kilmarnock FC.

Close ties
The connection between Kaunas and Hearts is Lithuanian banker and entrepreneur Vladimir Romanov, who owns both clubs as well as Belarussian outfit FC MTZ-RIPO Minsk. Romanov became Hearts's main shareholder after buying a 29.9 per cent stake in the Edinburgh club. Moreover, Lithuanian Football Federation president Liutauras Varanavičius recently became a board member at Hearts.

Further changes
Kaunas have also recruited 21-year-old Tomas Tamošauskas - once the rising star of Lithuanian football - on loan from FC Dinamo Moskva where he failed to break into the first team. However, there have been outgoings too, with defender Darius Žutautas joining Russia's FC Alania Vladikavkaz and Gintas Širmelis accepting an offer from FC TVMK Tallinn of Estonia.

Strugglers optimistic
Meanwhile, last season's strugglers, FK Suduva and FK Vilnius, have high hopes for the new campaign after attempting to fine-tune their squads. Suduva have landed veteran Darius Maciulevičius after a spell with Russian side FC Lisma-Mordovia Saransk, and handed contracts to triallists Otavio Braga, Enzo Ferrari and Valerio Sposato. Vilnius are trying to bring in a midfielder and a striker from Poland's top flight. The club recently lost Lithuanian international Donatas Vencevičius to Swedish side GIF Sundsvall.

League expansion
Finally, the Lithuanian First Division could add another two teams to its current eight-club format. FK Šiauliai and FK Nevežis Kedainiai are looking to enter the championship before it commences on 3 April.