CSKA Sofia Manager Quits after Poor Start
Pavel Dotchev has quit as CSKA Sofia coach today after a poor start to the Bulgarian league season, and just three days before Principality Welsh Premier League Champions TNS face the Bulgarians in the Europa League Playoff.
The 31-times champions are fourth from bottom after three games. They lost their first two home matches and then drew 2-2 on Saturday at Vidima-Rakovski who finished with nine men.
"There were many difficulties and obstacles," former Bulgaria defender Dotchev said.
"I didn't have support in my work but I'm leaving with my head held high."
Dotchev only took charge in May and during that time he brought forward Cillian Sheridan to the club from Celtic.
Saints have every Chance in Europa League Playoff
The New Saints make the long trip to Sofia in Bulgaria this week to take on CSKA in the Europa League Third Qualifying Round 1st leg on Thursday evening. The match is the biggest in their History and a win over two legs would see the Welsh Champions reach the Group Stages of the UEFA Europa League, guaranteeing themselves six more European matches.
Whilst Mike Davies' side were comfortably beating Prestaty Town 5-2 on Friday evening, with striker Chris Sharp bagging a hat-trick, their opponents were again struggling on the domestic front.
The Central Army Sports Club held on for their first point of the season when they drew 2-2 at Sevilievo against newly-promoted PFC Vidima-Rakovski.
The home side received two red cards and five yellows but came back to equalize late on.
This was CSKA's third league match of the season and their form should give Saints some hope. THE New Saints are savouring the tie and Owner Mike Harris thinks the gap is closing for Welsh Premier sides.
The Saints' managing director admits he would have liked a shot at Aston Villa, but believes the trip to Sofia will again show the giant strides the club has made on the European stage.
"The grouping gave us a chance of pulling Aston Villa out of the hat which would have been a nice draw, being just down the road," he said.
"But CSKA Sofia are another big name and if we can get past them, it would put the club on a platform alongside many of the other big clubs of Europe and it would obviously bring a lot of well-needed profile to our league.
Our league has been continuing to improve year on year and I think you'll find that the performances turned in by the clubs in Wales are getting to the point where we are going to be able to regularly compete past the first rounds of these club competitions.
"Against Anderlecht we more than held our own there. The gap is regularly closing and hopefully over the next few years we'll close the gap further."
(Quotes Courtesy www.saints-alive.co.uk)
