Ventspils grab Grigorchuk

Latvian UEFA Cup contenders FK Ventspils have named Ukrainian Roman Grigorchuk as their new coach.

Dinaburg experience
Grigorchuk has signed a two-and-a-half year contract with Ventspils to end a seven-year association with their domestic rivals FC Dinaburg. The coach joined Dinaburg as a player in 1998 and became the club's coach in 1999 having scored 30 goals for the club in 63 league appearances.

'Professional skill'
"Roman has worked with Dinaburg for a long time and has proved his professional skill," said Ventspils club president Jurijs Bespalovs. "I think he has all it takes to give Ventspils the necessary boost. The tasks of the new coach stay the same as his predecessor's - that is to win the championship and the Latvian Cup."

Semenov dismissed
Ventspils have been without a coach since June when Sergei Semenov was dismissed following a run of bad results. Semenov had taken charge of the club from the Kurzeme region at the beginning of 2005 but failed to keep them in contention with champions Skonto FC and FHK Liepajas Metalurgs in the race for the Latvian title.