Semin heads new regime at Lokomotiv

Longest-serving president
The confirmation of Semin's installation as president of the Moscow club followed the board's decision to part company with Filatov, the longest-serving president in the Russian Premier-Liga. During Filatov's 15 years in charge, Lokomotiv grew into one of the leading forces in the Russian game, winning the league title under Semin's stewardship in 2002 and 2004. Despite those successes, Filatov's relationship with his coach grew frosty and Semin's 13-year spell in charge ended with his dismissal in early 2005.

Bishovets installed
The majority of Lokomotiv fans expected the 59-year-old to return to the club one day, but none would have predicted it would be in the role of president. Semin, who had short spells coaching the Russian national team and FC Dinamo Moskva after leaving Lokomotiv, will work alongside a new coach in Anatoly Byshovets, brought in by the new regime to replace Oleh Dolmatov.

Experience
Byshovets, who like Semin has signed a two-year contract, is one of Russian football's most experienced coaches. The 60-year-old Ukrainian was in charge of Russia's gold medal-winning squad at 1988 Olympics and later coached the CIS national team at EURO '92, and Russia in 1998. His CV also includes spells with Dinamo, FC Zenit St. Petersburg and FC Tom Tomsk in Russia, as well as FC Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine and Portuguese side CS Marítimo.

'Strengthen in all areas'
Other new faces at the club are Boris Ignatiev, who will be appointed as vice-president, and Dmitri Balashov, who will take the same general manager's role he filled under Semin at Dinamo. The new president said: "I have returned to my beloved club which has suffered a lot of problems lately, including a poor transfer policy. We will aim to strengthen our squad in all areas."