Andy Potts

Reports of Guus Hiddink's departure from the Russian national team are somewhat exaggerated, according to his agent Cees van Nieuwenhuizen.

Britain's Daily Mail reported at the weekend that the Dutchman was due to step down because the incoming head of Russian football's governing body Sergei Fursenko wasn't prepared to foot the bill for his lavish salary.

But Nieuwenhuizen denied speaking to the London paper and told Sovietsky Sport that he and Hiddink were waiting to talk face-to-face with Fursenko, or anyone else taking the reins at the RFS.

"In one of the Russian newspapers, I read that Fursenko prefers a specialist team cheaper than Hiddink, and also from Russia," Nieuwenhuizen said. "In any case, we intend to talk with Fursenko and hear his views first hand."

For his part Fursenko has said Hiddink needs to commit to his current contract - which runs until July 2010 - before negotiations over a new term can begin. Since Russia lost in their World Cup qualifying play-off to Slovenia last November, Hiddink has been linked with a range of other posts at international and club level.

The former Zenit St. Petersburg president - widely thought to be a certain winner of the Feb. 3 election for a new RFS president - is also believed to be unhappy about the amount of time Hiddink spends in Russia, meeting members of his squad and watching Russian players in action.

The Russian newspaper also questioned whether Hiddink represented good value for a salary they claim is seven million euros a year.

And they published quotes from acting RFS President Nikita Simonyan claiming that Hiddink had yet to explain to his employers exactly what went wrong in the final stages of World Cup qualification when a sluggish performance
in Maribor saw their hopes of reaching South Africa come to an end.

"I also think Hiddink should have reported to us immediately on his return from Slovenia, and not simply transferred from one plane to another in Moscow and flown back to Amsterdam," Simonyan said.
"There was a meeting of the RFS board on Nov. 26 - could Hiddink have reported to this? He could. But he did not come and now he is accountable to no-one. We will have to wait until Feb. 3."

Italian media reports claim once again that Guus Hiddink is on his way to Juventus after the Turin side went down to their fifth defeat in six league games.

The Vecchia Signora lost 2-1 at home to leaders Roma despite taking a 51st-minute lead.
Jon-Arne Riise's 90th-minute strike could be the decisive blow for current coach Ciro Ferrara.