Advocaat coy over contract

Zenit yet to tie down Dutchman

By James Appell   Last updated: 20th October 2008  

Advocaat coy over contract

Advocaat: Yet to sign

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Zenit St Petersburg coach Dick Advocaat has refused to allay speculation that he could be on the verge of leaving the Russian champions at the end of the season.

Having revealed last month that he was considering leaving Russia to spend more time in his native Holland, the former Rangers boss admitted this weekend that he had approached the Zenit board with a list of 'questions' which he wished to discuss.

Advocaat's current deal with Zenit runs out in November and when asked by Russian newspaper Sport Express if he would be signing a new contract, the Dutchman stated: "I have six or seven questions that I would like to discuss with the Zenit board first. Only after that can I say whether I will stay or not."

According to Sport Express, these questions are contractual, and relate to the amount of time Advocaat will be allowed to return to Holland to spend time with his family.

However, it is rumoured that Advocaat is unhappy that his Uefa Cup, European Super Cup and domestic championship-winning side will be broken up at the end of the Russian season.

Top players Andrei Arshavin, Pavel Pogrebnyak and Anatoly Tymoshchuk are thought to be the target of some of Europe's top clubs.

Asked whether this would influence his decision, Advocaat was cagey.

"I did in fact say that it was very important for me which players would stay at Zenit next season," he admitted.

"But I did not mention by name any particular footballers."

Zenit general director Maxim Mitrofanov admitted that the club would try and meet Advocaat's demands.

"At the moment the coach has not put forward any unmatchable demands or requests," said Zenit general director Maxim Mitrofanov.

"We are not talking about money at least.

"I hope we will be able to reach a consensus."

Mitrofanov also quashed speculation reported in Italy that AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is being lined up as Advocaat's possible successor.

"I do not want to comment on the rumours that Zenit are considering Carlo Ancelotti as a possible replacement of Advocaat," he said.

"We want Dick to stay at the club and consider him the best possible candidate.

"We are treating this situation as a formality as his contract is expiring and we need to extend it."

Watch Zenit in action on Sky Sports 2 when they face BATE Borisov in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday