Bajevic ends PAOK reign

Dusan Bajevic has resigned as coach of Greek side FC PAOK Thessaloniki, becoming the third Hellenic National League team coach in five days to leave his club.

AEK appointment
Bajevic confirmed that he is now negotiating to take over from Fernando Santos at AEK Athens FC, after the Portuguese coach quit the capital club on Thursday. AEK beat PAOK 6-2 on Wednesday, but lost out on the title on goal difference to Olympiakos Piraeus FC.
 
'Good season'
The Yugoslavian, who played for and then coached AEK until 1996, led PAOK to fourth place this season, clinching a UEFA Cup place. Bajevic said: "Although we did not win anything and we did not qualify for the UEFA Champions League, I feel that the club had a good season, considering the difficult circumstances.

Financial problems
He added: "It is me who did not have a good season. I made a mistake not leaving a year ago. Back then I thought that the financial situation would improve and that I would not continue to see our players sold so that the club can afford the wages of the others",

Anger at sales
Among the sales that troubled Bajevic were Dimitrios Nalitzis's departure to Sporting Clube de Portugal and Olympiakos's purchase of Stylianos Venetidis. The continued depletion of his squad persuaded Bajevic to leave, finally deciding that he could not work with PAOK owner Georgios Batatoudis despite his original plan to stay for another year.

Answer this week
Bajevic admitted that he was now talking to AEK owner Makis Psomiadis. "I met with Psomiadis last Thursday, when my talks with Batatoudis were over and my decision to leave PAOK finalised," he said. "I told Psomiadis that I will consider his proposal and give him an answer during the week."

'Difficult decision'
Bajevic added: "He [Psomiadis] has been pressuring me for a 'yes', given the fact that AEK are playing in the third qualifying round of the Champions League [starting on 13-14 August] and they need to start organizing the new season as soon as possible. I have to admit that it is a very difficult decision for me."

Fans oppose return
Bajevic ended his first spell at AEK after an argument with then-owner Michalis Trohanas, moving to Olympiakos after secret negotiations. He was subsequently branded a traitor by fans who had previously idolised him as a player and a coach who led them to four league titles and many supporters oppose his reappointment.