Beşiktaş bid Çalimbay farewell

Riza Çalimbay has resigned as coach of Beşiktaş JK, just two days before their opening UEFA Cup Group H match against Bolton Wanderers FC.

Stuttering league form
The pressure had been mounting on Çalimbay after he was criticised over his team selection policy, though the elimination of Malmö FF to clinch a UEFA Cup group place appeared to have bought the coach some time. However, results in the Turkish Superleague have been disappointing and the goalless home draw against Kayserispor proved to be his final game at the helm. He leaves Beşiktaş lying seventh in the table, 13 points adrift of leaders Galatasaray SK.

'Lack of support'
Çalimbay defended his tactics at a press conference saying: "I have struggled to find my ideal side because the team have suffered injuries and suspensions since the start of the season. Only president Yildrim Demirören backed me, while other board members did not, which makes me sad." Meanwhile, former first-team coach Gordon Milne has returned to the club as a youth coordinator.