Komnacký ousted at Baník
Thursday, October 21, 2004
Article summary
FC Baník Ostrava have parted company with Frantisek Komnacký and will replace him with Jozef Jarabinský.
Article body
Previous spell
Jarabinský led Baník two and a half years ago before leaving the Bazaly stadium for AC Sparta Praha. However, the 60-year-old lasted only five months before being fired by the capital club in December 2002.
Crowd slump
Komnacký's position had been under threat after Baník's disappointing start to the season, including failure to reach the group stages of both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup. To make matters worse, home attendances, which averaged 15,000 last season, have halved.
Timely meeting
The last straw was Monday's 4-0 home defeat by FC Slovan Liberec, which left the champions in fifth place, eight points behind leaders Sparta. Baník, who have suffered from the departure of forward Marek Heinz to VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, will hope to cut the deficit when they play Jarabinský's former club Sparta on Saturday.