Trencín's trough of despond

AS Trencín had to wait seven months for their third league victory of the season but it has almost certainly come too late to spare them relegation in Slovakia.

Belated win
Argentinian David Depetris scored the winner as Trencín overcame beaten Slovakian Cup finalists FC Spartak Trnava 2-1 on Monday, but with five games to go those three points have done little to improve their league prospects. They are eleven points adrift of both FC ViOn Zlaté Moravce and FC Senec, occupying the only automatic Superliga relegation slot. The end appears nigh.

Dutch owners
The club's supporters might have expected better at the start of the season after former AFC Ajax, Netherlands and Panathinaikos FC winger Tscheu La Ling took over along with business partner Henk Ter Braack. The 52-year-was enthusiastic and talked of battling for the top places in the league and competing in Europe, hiring Englishman Rob McDonald as the club's coach.

Itinerant career
The 56-year-old McDonald, who started his playing career at Hull City AFC before enjoying a long, itinerant career in European football, was confident that Trencín could battle for the Slovakian title. "I believe in two years we will be able to do it," he said. However, the optimism of the coach and the owner was to last little longer than the summer.

Winter gloom
With Trencín rooted to the foot of the table at the winter break, McDonald resigned saying he "could not find common ground" with general manager Róbert Rybnícek. Six players, including captain Milan Micenec, left the club. "We always tried to win, but we always seemed to be a step behind our opponents," said the 33-year-old, now in Belarus with FC Dnepr-Mogilev.

New players
During the winter, Trencín signed a raft of new players including two former SC Heerenveen players, defender Danny van der Ree and midfielder This Sluiter, as well as Greek teenager Angelos Chanti. La Ling remained confident, saying: "I want to make footballing history here by putting in place the first elements of a succesful club."

Old story
However, a two-week winter training camp in the Netherlands did not prompt a change of luck for Trencín, as new Slovakian coach Martin Stano lurched from one poor result to another prior to Monday's victory. "I don't know what to say," forward Filip Hlohovský admitted in the aftermath of last month's goalless draw against Senec. "I am so disappointed I could cry."

Lazarus act
Club officials are hoping the win against Trnava will prompt a Lazarus act for Trencín, but it does not look likely. La Ling has nevertheless vowed not to give up on the club, saying he will stick around even if they are playing in the second division. Perhaps Trencín's quest to become an important European club will start there.