Vitesse name caretaker coach

SBV Vitesse named Edward Sturing as caretaker coach on Monday following the departure of Ronald Koeman to AFC Ajax.

Former player
Sturing, who spent ten years with the Dutch outfit as a player, undertook a similar role in 1999 after the sacking of Herbert Neumann. Vitesse chairman Jos Vaessen outlined that the promotion was only a temporary measure. "Edward knows the club inside out and he's done the job before," he said. "He will take over until the winter break and that will give us time to focus on the situation for the second half of the season."

'Best for the club'
Vaessen refused to comment on speculation linking NEC Nijmegen's Johan Neeskens and Martin Jol of RKC Waalwijk with the permanent post. Sturing, who took Monday morning's training session, is well aware of the task at hand. "Whatever is best for the club is best for me," he said.

'Keeping in shape'
"I've done it before and I won't have any problem with it if another coach takes over in January. Then again, I would also have no problem if I could work with the lads until the end of the season. Now, it's just a matter of keeping the group in shape for the final run towards the winter break."

First game
Koeman, who had been in charge of Vitesse since January 2000, has signed a contract until July 2004 with Ajax. He replaces Co Adriaanse, who was sacked last Thursday, and will take charge of his first game on Tuesday when Ajax entertain SC Fortuna Sittard at the Amsterdam ArenA.