Astra seal move for Bondrea

SC Astra Ploiesti have appointed Marian Bondrea as their new coach.

Vastly experienced
The experienced 52-year-old, who has signed a two-year deal with Astra, has already coached FC National Bucuresti, FC Dinamo Bucuresti, FC Arges-Dacia Pitesti on two occasions and FC Universitatea Craiova three times. During the 2001/02 season he was in charge of a club in Syria.

Multsecu moves on
Astra have become the sixth Divizia A side to change their coach since the end of the Romanian season three weeks ago. Gheorghe Multescu stepped down after leading Astra to 12th position in the league and is now looking for a club in Turkey.

Goalkeeper gone
For their first training session under their new coach, Astra welcomed back all of the players who finished 12th in the Romanian table last season, with the exception of goalkeeper Catalin Multescu, who is currently negotiating a deal with FC Zimbru Chisinau in Moldova.

Petrolul merger
Perhaps more surprising was the presence at the session of nine players from relegated local rivals FC Petrolul Ploiesti. Petrolul’s management ordered goalkeepers Cornel Cernea and Ionut Irimia, defender Ciprian Toporan, midfield players Dinu Todoran, Marius Irimescu and Marius Suleap and strikers Daniel Costescu, Orlando Gheorghe and Alin Savu to join Astra in training, with a merger of the two clubs appearing imminent.

New name
A final agreement has yet to be signed between them, although they have already proposed a new name in the event of a merger. Astra and Petrolul will be fused together to become FCM Prahova Ploiesti – Prahova being the name of the county of which Ploiesti is the regional centre.