RUS - Ivkovic saluted by Dynamo Moscow on his way out the door

MOSCOW (Superleague) - Dynamo Moscow have paid tribute to Dusan Ivkovic for the major impact he made on the club after announcing he would not lead the team for a third season.

One of the coaching greats from Serbia, Ivkovic steered the team to ULEB Cup glory in 2005-06 to qualify them for the Euroleague and once in Europe's elite club competition this season, Ivkovic engineered a run to the quarter-finals.

Ivkovic's contract has expired and he has decided to seek a new challenge.

Dynamo president Eugeni Gomelsky told Sport-Express: "It was absolutely the right move to appoint Ivkovic two years ago.

"I can say only good things about him.

"Dynamo gained real respect in Europe thanks to Ivkovic. Also, Ivkovic's advice concerning the organization of the club's infrastructure was professional and valuable."

There is speculation that David Blatt, the national team coach of Russia who led Dynamo St Petersburg to the FIBA Europe League crown in 2005, could replace Ivkovic.

Blatt coached Benetton Treviso the past two years and led them to the Italian title in 2006 and this year's Coppa Italia.

With Benetton having missed the play-offs following a 12-point deduction for sporting fraud, the team will not play in the Euroleague - a competition Blatt is desperate to coach in.

When asked who would take over at Dynamo, Gomelsky said: "I can't answer this question yet. We're having talks with several candidates."

Dynamo chief executive Gennadi Drozdov also had praise for Ivkovic, who joined the team from CSKA Moscow.

"I'd like to thank Ivkovic for everything he did for Dynamo. We've won the first European (ULEB) Cup in our history under his guidance and also qualified for the quarter-finals of the Euroleague.

"We've also improved organizational things mostly thanks to Ivkovic."

In other Russian news, BC Khimki have clinched two-year extensions with their head coach Kestutis Kemzura - Blatt's former assistant at Dynamo St Petersburg and Benetton - and center Maciej Lampe and forward Kelly McCarty.

UNICS Kazan general manager Stanislav Eremin, meanwhile, is reportedly set to become Dynamo Moscow Region's new coach.

Russian International guard and UNICS captain Petr Samoilenko, who has been playing in Kazan for nine years, has agreed to a new deal to remain at the club.

FIBA