Armstrong ousted at HJK
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Article summary
After a five-year spell including two league title wins and as many Finnish Cup triumphs, Keith Armstrong has been sacked as head coach of HJK Helsinki.
Article body
European exit
Armstrong, 49, has paid the price of raised expectations after a disappointing season in HJK's centenary year. Last week the Finnish club were knocked out of the UEFA Cup, 4-2 on aggregate, by second qualifying round opponents Aalborg BK. A 1-0 home defeat on Monday by local rivals FC Honka Espoo then proved to be Armstrong's last act as manager. Although it was only HJK's third loss of the Veikkausliiga campaign, eleven draws in 18 games have kept them in the bottom half of the table – they lie eighth in the 14-team division.
'Good terms'
"We had a good conversation with Armstrong and came to the conclusion that it would be better to carry on with fresh faces," said HJK chairman Olli-Pekka Lyytikäinen. "We have parted on good terms. The season has been a catastrophe. It is by no means one man's fault – all of us need to take a good look in the mirror." Armstrong's assistant Abdou Talat will take over on a caretaker basis.
