Smuda back at Widzew

Franciszek Smuda has returned for his third spell as coach of Widzew Lódz, the club he took into the UEFA Champions League in 1996/97.

Disappointing time
Smuda, who won the Polish championship twice during that successful period in the mid-1990s, first returned to Widzew in the autumn of last year. However, he left the club in December following a poor run of results.

Survival fight
Widzew's plight is now perilous. The club are third from bottom of the Ekstraklasa, with 18 points from 20 matches. Even if they can pull themselves out of the relegation zone, the two places above them still carry the threat of a play-off for survival.

Support needed
The club has called for Smuda because of the resignation of Czech coach Petr Nemec last weekend, although the job was first offered to former national team coach Janusz Wojcik. "Wojcik wanted only to be a consultant, and we needed a real coach," said Widzew chairman Andrzej Pawelec. "I ask all Widzew fans to support Smuda and the club at this tough time."

Another defeat
Under Nemec, Widzew won two of their four matches played following the resumption of the Polish season, beating leaders Dospel Katowice 2-0 and Wisla Plock 1-0. On Wednesday, however, they went down 1-0 at KS Amica Wronki with goalkeeping coach Tomasz Muchinski in temporary charge.

First time round
Smuda, who has also coached Legia Warszawa and TS Wisla Kraków, first took charge of Widzew in 1995, with the highlight of his four-year reign being that Champions League qualification.