Poenaru checks in at Ceahlaul

Romanian side FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt have appointed Gheorghe Poenaru as their new coach to replace Marin Barbu.

Left Bacau
Poenaru spent the second half of last season at FCM Bacau, but stepped down four rounds from the end because he could not take the side into a UEFA Cup place. Poenaru still lives in Bacau, 60km from Piatra Neamt but club president Gheorghe Stefan was not worried.

Stefan satisfied
"He is our third coach to live in Bacau and I was very satisfied with the work done here by the other two," said Stefan. "I think we have luck with trainers from that city."

First task
Poenaru has signed a one-year contract with an option for another 12 months. His first task is to assess his squad ahead of the 2002/03 season. "We cannot say what our objectives for the new season are until we will know on which players we can count," he said.