Two Russian oil executives have offered to pay $1m a year to employ a foreign coach after their country's dismal showing at the World Cup.
Lukoil vice-president Leonid Fedun and Yukos vice-president Vasily Shakhnovsky have written a letter to the Russian Football Union outlining their proposal.
"This is our private initiative, a letter from two individuals, Shakhnovsky and Fedun, rather than from our companies," Fedun told Russian business daily Vedomosti.
"Vasily was at the championship and I watched it from here, and I was ashamed and offended."
Russia beat Tunisia 2-0 in their opening match but defeats by Japan and Belgium condemned them to an early exit.
And that prompted the resignation of 48-year-old coach Oleg Romantsev.
Shakhnovsky said a replacement would cost in the region of $650,000 (£430,000), but insisted he was only prepared to pay for a foreign coach.
Alexander Chernov, a consultant to the Russian Football Union, said the idea of bringing in a foreigner was already being considered.
"The question of money is not a priority for the football association. The main task is to attract the necessary specialist," he said.