Betis under pressure to transmit tranquility

One can’t claim that Real Betis’ season back in the second category of Spanish football hasn’t been uneventful. Firm favourites to secure one of the automatic promotion places, the team have struggled on the pitch in the lower category. The team’s problems on the field of play have had an institutional impact which culminated this week seeing the board of directors at the Seville based club resign en-mass. The club saw the departure of president Manuel Domínguez Platas, vice-president Fernando Casas and director Antonio Sánchez Pino on Tuesday and were shortly accompanied by coach Julio Velazquez.

Juan Carlos Ollero, the newly nominated club president is the man in charge of moving the club forward and one of his initial tasks is to elect a successor to Velazquez. The board were keen on Lorenzo Serra Ferrer but it would appear his involvement as a board member at RCD Mallorca may impede him returning to coaching duty. Pepe Mel is the fans firm favourite topping a local poll with a massive 76% of the Betis faithful keen to see the former boss back on the bench at the Benito Villamarin. For the side’s league game at goal-shy, Llagostera on Saturday, former youth coach; Juan Merino will take charge until a successor to Velazquez is found.

Another club which has seen its fair share of turmoil this season so far is Real Zaragoza: Financial problems, negotiation with the tax-man over unpaid bills, supporter unrest and subsequent campaign to oust former president, Agapito Iglesias which led way to a new board of directors, the club embroiled in match-fixing scandals and the small matter of the team under performing with disappointing results that see the Aragon side outside the play-off places. Exit Victor Muñoz and enter Serbian, Ranko Popovic to try and address the teams problems. His first game in charge is at home tie to Ponferredina on Sunday but with the legal decision from the Zaragoza-Levante match-fixing scandal expected next Tuesday, one feels that the ongoing off-field institutional drama over-shadowing the club has some way to run its course.

Jornada 15 Fixtures (all times in CET)

Saturday November 29

1800 Osasuna-Girona

1800 Alavés-Numancia

1815 Llagostera-Real Betis

2000 Sabadell-Las Palmas

2130 Leganés-Valladolid

Sunday November 30

1200 Mallorca-Sporting

1215 Racing-Alcorcón

1700 Recreativo-Mirandés

1700 Barça B-Albacete

1815 Zaragoza-Ponferredina

1900 Lugo-Tenerife

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