Racing Santander sacks Juan Carlos Mandia

Racing Santander sacks Juan Carlos Mandia

Racing Santander have parted company with coach Juan Carlos Mandia following the team's poor start to the season.

Mandia only took charge of Racing this summer following the resignation of Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz, but he could only guide the Cantabrian side to one win in their opening 10 Primera Division matches.

The final straw for the Racing board was Sunday's 2-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao at El Sardinero, a result that left the team 17th in the standings on seven points and with just one point from their five home games.

Racing also lost the away leg of their Copa del Rey fourth-round tie with Segunda Division side Salamanca 1-0 a fortnight ago, and they face the return meeting on Wednesday.

The 42-year-old Mandia, who had penned a one-year contract this summer, had never before coached a top-flight team but he caught Racing's eye after almost leading Hercules to promotion from the Segunda Division last term.

Looking to reach the Primera Division for the first time since 1997, Hercules finished fourth, three points behind Real Zaragoza and Tenerife, who claimed the two promotion spots behind champions Xerez.

Racing president Francisco Pernia admitted the poor results had been the deciding factor.

"I want to stress that the club gratefully acknowledges the work done by Mandia and his team. But the results that we expected have not arrived and we have taken this decision when there is still enough time (to recover)," Pernia said at a press conference this evening.

Mandia, speaking at the same press conference, said: "This club is run by real gentlemen, who are tremendously respectful of the work of the coaches. They have given a freedom to work that is difficult to find elsewhere.

"The results haven't been great but there is a great deal of room for improvement in the squad, which I hope will help the board and the players reach their objectives.

"Racing are a team under construction, as much in defence as attack."

Juan Jose Gonzalez and Federico Castanos will take charge for the second leg of the Copa del Rey tie against Salamanca.