Espanyol sack Marquez

Club hoping to name new manager in next 48 hours

Last updated: 1st December 2008

Bartolome Marquez

Marquez: Axed

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Espanyol have sacked coach Bartolome 'Tintin' Marquez following their 1-0 defeat to Sporting Gijon on Sunday.

The defeat was Espanyol's fourth on the trot and leaves them in 17th spot in the Primera Liga.

Marquez only took charge of Espanyol in the summer as a replacement for Ernesto Valverde, but he has struggled to get the best out of the players at his disposal.

Assistant coach Oscar Perarnau will take temporary charge of the side, but sports director Paco Herrera is hoping to have a new man installed in the next 48 hours.

A club statement read: "Espanyol's delegate commission, which also included sporting director Francisco Herrera, took the decision to dismiss Bartolome Marquez, which has been communicated to the man who until now was the first-team coach.

"Fitness coach Xavi Pedrero will not continue either, as revealed by Herrera in the press conference.

"The team's training session on Monday at 11 o'clock will be led by assistant coach Oscar Perarnau. We hope nevertheless that Marquez will stop by beforehand to say goodbye to the players.

"Paco Herrera insisted that the club will allow themselves 48 hours to determine who will be Marquez's replacement on the bench."

Former coach Luis Fernandez, Miroslav Djukic and Jose Manuel Esnal are the early candidates to be linked with the vacant position.