RFU chief to meet Hiddink over contract

Former Zenit St Petersburg president Sergei Fursenko was elected head of the Russian FA (RFU) yesterday and his first major task will be to decide whether to extend the contract of national coach Guus Hiddink.

"He's in Moscow and we intend to meet and talk over all the details," Fursenko told reporters after easily beating his only rival Alisher Aminov for the RFU post, with 95 votes out of 106.

Russia failed to qualify for this year's World Cup in South Africa under Hiddink, whose deal expires at the end of June.

When Dutchman Hiddink arrived in Moscow yesterday he was warmly greeted by several dozen Russian fans, who shouted: "Only Guus, Only Guus, together we will win."

"It was a nice welcome," Hiddink told Reuters at the airport.

"I already know that Fursenko was elected the new boss of Russian football and we plan to meet on Thursday (today) to discuss a number of things."

Asked about the reports, linking him with coaching jobs in Turkey and China, Hiddink said: "I've heard there is a lot of interest but I can't say anything until I speak with Fursenko.

"Yes, we (Russia) failed to qualify for South Africa, I also feel that I failed as a coach but now I feel refreshed and ready for a new challenge," he added.

Fursenko succeeded Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who resigned from his dual role as RFU president in November after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev demanded that government officials in charge of national sports bodies be replaced by professional personnel.