Police step up security for Hajduk Split players

ZAGREB (Reuters) - Croatian police are to patrol Hajduk Split training sessions and will step up security during the club's matches, police said on Tuesday.

No reason was given for the measures but local media reported that fans, unhappy at the Hajduk's poor start to the season, could target players and management. Police said no incidents had been reported so far.

Hajduk, one of the most popular and most successful Croatian teams, are 10th in the championship comprising 16 teams, 14 points behind leaders Dinamo Zagreb after 12 matches.

Hajduk face Dinamo at home in the league next weekend.

Italian coach Edy Reja, who took over Hajduk in August following a poor start to the season, admitted that the problems plaguing the club were deep.

"We have too many players and the squad needs to be trimmed. We can expect better days only after the winter break when I hope to change the team as I see fit," Reja told Vecernji List daily.

(Reporting by Igor Ilic, editing by Justin Palmer

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