I have a thought. Perhaps he doesn't "retire" to help Mishin? All coaches in Sankt Petersburg said that they don't became help from the city, now Mishin has no adult skater in the high ranks (Liza is uncertain, Gachinski left, the rest seems to be juniors?). Without the help from federation it looks grim for his group, so they might need the money a "national team skater" brings? I don't know too much how funding works in Russia, is just a thought, as it seems Mishin support this idea (and if i was so near as Mishin is to Plushenko i would hush away Plushenko from the rink ).