Bulgaria's Hopes for Foreign Football Coach Quashed

The Bulgarian side suffered their second defeat to start their Euro 2012 campaign at home to Montenegro. Photo by BGNES

A top football official has said Bulgaria can't afford to attract a foreigner to replace national coach Stanimir Stoilov, who resigned late on Tuesday in the aftermath of his team's second successive Euro 2012 qualifier defeat."

"Contracting a foreign coach will be too expensive for us. We have the support of our sponsors, but no one can fork out EUR 1 M for the annual salary of the boss," Atanas Furnadzhiev, Vice President of the Bulgarian football association, told Dnevnik daily.

According to him another option is to invite a coach from a neighboring country.

"There are good experts there, whom we can afford. The team of Montenegro for example is headed by a Croatian. But it is too early to say what lies ahead."

"I think that Stanimir Stoilov is the best coach we can find in Bulgaria, but lets'see. We need some time," Furnadzhiev added.

Stanimir Stoilov resigned after his team humiliating defeat by Montenegro on Tuesday night, which means its chances of progressing are virtually negligible.

The 43-year-old believes captain Stiliyan Petrov could follow him in quitting international football.

Losing Aston Villa midfielder Petrov would be a further blow in a qualifying campaign sporting director Nasko Sirakov has already branded a "tragedy".

Sirakov has also hinted that he too might resign, saying: "I came to help the lads and the team but it seems that I didn't cope with my task. I don't think I'll continue my work."

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