Streamlined league starts in Armenia

The Armenian championship gets under way this Saturday with a new format designed to cope with a reduction in participants from 12 to eight.

Absent friends
FC Zvartnots AAL and newly promoted FK Armavir both withdrew after failing to pay their membership fee, FC Ararat Yerevan were expelled after refusing to release players for international training camps and FC Lernayin Artsakh, who have the same sponsors, withdrew in sympathy. Teams will now play each other four times.

Pyunik have new coach
Champions FC Pyunik will once again be the team to beat, although their side has changed significantly since last season. The Romanian Mihai Stoichita has been appointed as coach, while the Karamyan brothers have left the club for Greece. The men charged with replacing them are the Malian Issa Traore and Russian attacking midfield player Eduard Partikyan. They have also been strengthened by former FC Torpedo Kutaisi defender Vakhtang Hakobyan.

Forward planning
Pyunik's main rivals look likely to be FC Banants, who merged with FC Spartak Yerevan. Beanpole forward Kiril Varaksin has come in from Latvian club FK Riga, and Ara Hakobyan - a loan signing from FC Metalurh Donetsk - is a significant addition to their attacking options.

Same old Shirak
FC Shirak, second last season, have kept their squad pretty much intact, which is more than can be said for FC Kotayk, who have attracted the powerful Multi Group as sponsors and have changed just about their entire playing personnel.

The dogfight
Of the others, FC MIKA are the best bet for a surprise challenge for a UEFA Cup spot, while FC Dinamo-2000 Yerevan, FC Lernagorts and FC Araks Ararat look set to battle relegation.