Abkhazia Institute for Social and Economic Research

Final day
A 4-2 win at FC Torpedo Kutaisi on the final day of the season saw Olimpi maintain their one-point lead over traditional Georgian giants FC Dinamo Tbilisi. It was the latest exciting turn of events for the club, which was founded days before the start of the current season with the merger of FC Olimpi Tbilisi and FC Tbilisi and play in Rustavi, 25m southeast of the capital.

Coaching change
Olimpi started the season under the leadership of 31-year-old coach Georgi Kiknadze and young goalkeeper Mikhail Alavidze did not concede a single goal in the first eight games of the campaign as the new club shook up the old order. They led the table at the midway point in the season only for Kiknadze to leave after failing to agree a new contract with the club's board.

Appointment imminent
He was replaced by a coach twice his age, 62-year-old Revaz Dzodzuashvili, and the vastly experienced coach showed his worth in the spring. His side did not lose a game in the second half of the season, but he also left the club after an option to extend his contract was not taken up. The former Soviet international is expected to be replaced by his former assistant Varlam Kilasonia.

Olimpi signings
With a place booked in the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, Olimpi have already started making signings, with former Dinamo defender Sergi Orbeladze joining along with defensive midfielder David Gigauri and striker Djaba Dvali from FC Chikhura Sachkhere. The latter won the 2005/06 title with FC Sioni Bolnisi, ending the season as the league's top scorer.

Ameri plans
Georgian Cup winners FC Ameri Tbilisi will start their preparations for the new season on 8 June, meeting in Borjomi and then moving on to the Czech Republic for a training camp. Georgi Chikhradze's team have agreed a three-year contract extension with midfielder Georgi Dekanosidze and look set to sign Sioni's winger Mikhail Alavidze and former FC Dinamo Batumi midfielder Koba Shalamberidze.

Ups and downs
Dinamo will join Ameri in the UEFA Cup first qualifying round as league runners-up. Their striker Sandro Iashvili ended the season as the league's top scorer with 21 goals. Meanwhile, FC Dila Gori and FC Kakheti Telavi were relegated while Chikhura Sachkhere survived a relegation play-off against FC Gagra. FC Mglebi Zugdidi and FC Meskheti Akhaltsikhe were both promoted.