Gomolyako Slams Gordon Over Traktor's Poor Start

Sergei Gomolyako, a former vice-president of Traktor, has criticised head coach Scott Gordon over the club's start to the season.

Traktor sit bottom of the Eastern Conference with 2 points from 4 matches.

"Traktor's management is moving in the direction it chose, and it is now at the corresponding stage of that path. Wherever they were heading, that is where they are. It is clear they brought in Gordon to develop young players and said it was work for the long term. But we see that this Gordon is sometimes ill, sometimes not, and at press conferences he looks for excuses, first one thing, then another. I understand that this strategy might work in, say, five years. But when the team played in the final two years ago and Traktor now sit bottom of the conference, it hurts everyone, above all the fans, who know hockey very well and follow the team under a microscope. If they see indifference and uncertainty, it upsets everyone, of course. Chelyabinsk always has full stands, yet there is no result. The team is going through a global rebuild, and so far we do not see coordinated team play. So it is very painful to watch this state of affairs in Chelyabinsk, because the fans are used to Traktor always being among the leaders, and two seasons ago the team gave Lokomotiv a real fight in the final. You cannot forget the fans, who always support the team fiercely when they come to the arena. Strategy is strategy, fine words are fine words, but people are used to the team actually winning, not sitting among the outsiders," said Gomolyako.

Under Gordon this season the side has managed only 2 points from its opening 4 fixtures, leaving it last in the East.