Greek season ready to restart

The Hellenic National League resumes this weekend after a one-month break during which three top-flight clubs have changed their head coach.

Coaching casualties
Olympiakos Piraeus FC sacked Takis Lemonis and appointed Yiannis Kollias as caretaker coach in his place while rivals Panathinaikos FC parted company with Fernando Santos and brought back Uruguayan Sergio Markarian. Finally, Panahaiki FC sacked Italian Vincenzo Guerini and replaced him with Elias Armodoros.

Games suspended
Greek football's ruling body, the Hellenic Football League (EPAE), suspended all league games for two weeks following the collapse of the top division's main TV broadcaster and the Greek government's refusal to subsidise clubs for their losses. No games had been scheduled for the next two weeks because of EURO 2004™ qualifiers on 13 October and Greek municipal elections on 20 October.

Champions League fortunes
During the enforced break, AEK Athens FC have grown in confidence after two superb draws against Real Madrid CF in the UEFA Champions League while Olympiakos are under pressure after three successive losses in the competition. The reigning champions are reportedly looking for an experienced foreign head coach. The season resumes with these two teams joint-top of the table with ten points each after four matches.

Weekend matches
This weekend Olympiakos travel to FC PAOK Thessaloniki while AEK take on newly promoted Kallithea GS. Panathinaikos, currently struggling in 13th place with just one win and three defeats, play host to third-placed Aris Thessaloniki FC.