Coaches come and go in Bulgaria
Monday, October 7, 2002
Article summary
PFC Dobrudzha Dobrich and PFC Naftex Burgas have changed their coaches.
Article body
PFC Naftex Burgas and PFC Dobrudzha Dobrich changed their respective coaches at the weekend following poor results in the Bulgarian Professional League.
Lack of improvement
Naftex sacked coach Nedelcho Matushev on Saturday after a 2-1 home defeat against relegation-fighters PFC Botev Plovdiv. Matushev took control of the club at the beginning of March, replacing Dimitar Stoychev. He led the team to sixth position by the end of the last campaign and, after eight league games this season, the club are in the same position.
Instant results
"The defeat is partly my fault," Matushev said. "I feel guilty for not being able to motivate my players to show their best. The worst thing is that lately nobody gives you the chance to work slowly. If the instant results are not good, you have to leave." Ognyan Ralev, the club's general manager, has been appointed caretaker coach until a permanent solution is found. He has experience as he was Stoychev's assistant during his time in charge.
Peychev steps up
Meanwhile, Georgi Haralampiev left Dobrudzha following the club's 2-0 home defeat by PFC Chernomorets. Valentin Peychev, who was in charge of Dobrudzha's youth teams, was appointed caretaker coach and the team captain Svetoslav Krastev takes over the role of assistant-coach.
Player exodus
Dobrudzha are bottom of the league with only one point from eight games and face an almost impossible task to avoid relegation and the imminent exodus of up to nine first team players will not help their plight. The players are reportedly unhappy with criticism received from Peychev.
Youth team
Goalkeepers Todor Stoyanov and Nikolay Kirov, who have conceded 29 goals in eight league games, are among those who will be released on free transfers. The other seven are Kaloyan Filatov, Georgi Georgiev, Georgi Zdravkov, Lyudmil Kirov, Nikolay Kirilov, Vladimir Kirov and former PFC CSKA Sofia and Bulgarian international forward Rumen Hristov. Dobrudzha are likely to field their youth team for the remainder of the season.
