Time of transition for Trans

After a disappointing start to the season, Estonian outfit JK Trans Narva have made changes to their coaching and playing staff.

New regime
Head coach Tõnu Eapost has returned to the post of goalkeeping coach which he held last season while experienced Russian defender Aleksei Jagudin has taken over as caretaker player-coach. Fellow defender Oleg Kurotškin will be his playing assistant.

‘Very direct’
Trans president Nikolai Burdakov explained: "Eapost is a very direct person, he always says what he thinks and hardly makes compromises. This meant there were some tensions created inside the team, which obviously affected the results."

Alonen released
Meanwhile, Trans have also released 35-year-old midfield player Viktor Alonen and signed 26-year-old goalkeeper Temur Odinayev, who has experience of Russian second division football with FK Pikalyovo. He has signed until the end of the season, but needs to resolve visa and work permit issues before he can represent the Estonian club.

Out of Europe
Trans are currently fourth in the Meistriliiga table with 22 points – 14 less than leading duo FC Flora Tallinn and FC Levadia Tallinn. In the Estonian Cup, Trans were defeated in the semi-finals and they lost to Lithuanian side FK Vetra in the first round of the UEFA Intertoto Cup.