Report: Krikunov will take charge of Ak Bars, Zinoviev will return to Kazan

Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk head coach Vladimir Krikunov will take the head coach position at Ak Bars Kazan, according to Allhockey.ru.

This decision was reportedly made yesterday at the meeting, which included the club’s former head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov, who had left his post for a similar one at the Russian national team, and the president of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov.

Bilyaletdinov’s assistant Valery Belov had been considered an alternative candidate to Krikunov during the last year. Instead, Belov will remain an assistant to Bilyaletdinov, now at the national team, while Krikunov will become a head coach at Ak Bars.

Also, according to the information available to the source, centre forward Sergey Zinovev will return to Ak Bars from Salavat Yulaev Ufa. Zinoviev left the Kazan club several years ago in a scandalous manner.