Dragan Okuka leaves Changchun along with midfielder Eninho

Changchun Yatai have confirmed that their Bosnian Serb manager Dragan Okuka will not be returning to lead the club next season.

The former Jiangsu Sainty boss signed a 6 month contract with the team and had another one-year option available should he achieve the goals set forward by Changchun’s owner.

The target was to achieve a top-ten finish, with 8th place being the reported target. As the team suffered a number of key defeats throughout the year they finished 13th in the league.

As such, Changchun have let Okuka go with the hopes of finding a new manager swiftly – however the well-travelled coach isn’t only person being let go this off-season.

Last season’s best player for the team, Eninho, will also be released. Eninho signed an 18 month contract with the team at the start of the year but the Yatai bosses felt that his advancing age, turning 34 next May, meant they should not retain his services and look for younger foreign players for next season.

Eninho may be considered the bigger loss for Changchun fans who will be sad to see the talented midfielder let go.