Dutch touch of class for Alma-Ata

Eight of the 16 clubs who will kick off the new Kazakh campaign have changed coaches since the end of last season, with a Dutch duo in charge at FC Alma-Ata.

Dutch duo
Kazakhstan Cup holders Alma-Ata brought in national team coach Arno Pijpers midway through last season in a consultancy role alongside Grigoriy Babayan, who was placed in temporary charge. Babayan has now taken on a new role as an assistant with Pijpers' fellow Dutchman and national team assistant coach Marco Bragonje taking command having led FC Ordabasy Shymkent to ninth in the table in 2007.

Volgin quits
The most successful Kazakh club, FC Irtysh Pavlodar, have also named a new boss having earned a place in the 2008 UEFA Intertoto Cup. Sergey Volgin, the country's player of the year in 1992, has resigned after two years in charge with former Kazakhstan captain Oyrat Saduov stepping in to replace him after spells in charge of FC Yesil Bogatyr Petropavlovsk and the Under-21 national team.

Atyrau pairing
Volgin was not out of work for long, accepting a new post at FK Atyrau, who had recently parted company with coach Bakhtiyar Bayseitov. He will be assisted by Sergey Klimov, known for his work with FC Kairat and the U21 team. Meanwhile, Vladimir Linchevski has been replaced by his assistant Eduard Glazunov despite leading FC Zhetysu Taldykorgan to a best-ever fifth placed finish in 2007.

Kaisar hopeful
Last season, Sergey Gorokhovodatsky did a great job turning FC Kaisar Kyzylorda from relegation favourites into a solid mid-table side and Vladimir Nikitenko – formerly Voit Talgayev's assistant at Atyrau and FC Terek Grozny – will look to do even better after replacing him. Ordbasy have yet to name a replacement for Bragonje, although the club's new president Baurzhan Baymukhamedov may take charge.

League newcomers
FC Kazakhmys Satpayev's decision not to join the Super League despite winning the first division title meant FC Okzhetpes Kokshetau were spared relegation. Coach Vyacheslav Ledovskikh, however, will go up a league having left Kazakhmys for Okzhetpes. Fellow promoted side FC Megasport Almaty have hired Ravil Ramazanov – who led FK Aktobe to the 2005 title – with his predecessor Vladimir Gulyamkhaidarov staying on as a consultant.