Hiddink set for Ivory Coast

Guus Hiddink will coach the Ivory Coast at the World Cup providing he can break his contract with Russia which expires in July, his agent said on Friday.

Cees van Nieuwenhuizen confirmed that Hiddink has signed a deal with the African side, adding he was ready to come to Moscow to cancel Hiddink’s contract with the Russian Football Union (RFU).

“We need to give our final answer to Cote d’Ivoire within two weeks,” van Nieuwenhuizen said.

“But we can do nothing before we are under contract with Russia. I hope we will find the solution that fits everybody before the end of March.”

The RFU chief Sergei Fursenko said that lawyers were inspecting and finalising the details of the cancellation of the contract.

“The lawyers are now working on the situation,” Fursenko revealed.

“However, they have still failed to reach agreement and Hiddink is still under contract with the RFU.”

French specialist Philipp Troussier is waiting in the wings to take charge of the Ivory Coast if Hiddink fails to get an early release from his Russia.

Whoever gets the job will take over from Bosnian Vahid Halilhodzic, who was axed after the Ivory Coast failed to make the African Cup of Nations semi-finals in January.

Reports suggest Hiddink’s contract with Cote d’Ivoire starts on May 15 and will last until July 15.