Saturday 7 January 2017 20:35, UK
Valencia's spiralling crisis claimed a new victim on Saturday as sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch resigned.
The club are without a permanent head coach after former Italy boss Cesare Prandelli quit last week with Los Che outside the La Liga relegation zone only on goal difference.
"Jesus Garcia Pitarch has resigned in a irrevocable manner as sporting director," the club confirmed in a statement.
"Current academy director Jose Ramon Alesanco will assume his role in a temporary fashion."
Pitarch had been heavily criticised for his role in the club's decline since being hired a year ago.
The club added that Alesanco will work with interim coach Voro, who has taken temporary reigns of the team for a fifth time in his career, to try and add to the squad during the January transfer window.
Frustrated fans called for under-fire Singaporean owner Peter Lim to sell his stake in the club after Tuesday's embarrassing 4-1 thrashing at home to Celta Vigo in the Copa del Rey.
Valencia travel to bottom placed Osasuna on Monday in a match with huge ramifications at the bottom of the table.
