Hajduk Sack Krsticevic
Hajduk Split have confirmed that first team manager Miso Krsticevic has left the club after the board decided to terminate his contract after just a few months in the job. He took over from Krasimir Balakov in March, but failed to win Hajduk the league, as they finished as runners-up to rivals Dinamo, who secured their 14th title by 21 points over Hajduk.
Losing the league by so many points seems to be the reason Krsticevic is now out of a job, but it could also be down to the fact that the 54-year-old has failed to improve his squad enough for many pundits to believe they have a realistic chance of challenging for the Prva HNL title. The board has now decided that it is time to terminate Krsticevic's contract, and look for a new man to take charge and try to lead Hajduk to the highs they haven't experienced for a few years now.
Whoever comes in will face quite a sizable challenge with this Hajduk squad. The squad is far from the strength it has been in the past, and the finances are in one of the worst states ever. The club is only worth a predicted £2.6m, but the club from Split have a bank loan worth £6.5m that they need to repay. Repayment installments are expected to be started over the next few weeks, however that will just further decrease Hajduk's already minuscule balance. On the up side, the club's fantastic youth system means the club won't have to buy as many players.
Many unemployed managers have already distanced themselves from taking the job at the Stadion Poljud, leaving the odds-on favourite for the job as Niko Kovac, Croatia's under-21 manager. The former Hertha Berlin player has very little experience as a manager, however has help backroom staff roles at Red Bull Salzburg in Austria. It might not be the most ideal appointment for the Croatian team, but when so many managers have ruled themselves out of the running, there is not really much else they can do.
