Fujairah have parted company with coach Dzemal Hadziabdic less than two weeks before the beginning of the 2014/15 Arabian Gulf League season.
The promoted club, appearing in the top tier of UAE football for the first time since 2007, announced the news on their official Twitter account last night, describing the termination of the contract as "consensual".
Hadziabdic, the former Al Dhafra manager, was expected to lead Fujairah on their return to the top flight, especially as he has considerable experience in the Emirates. In 2002, he coached Al Ain before taking charge of Al Shabab for the 2004/05 campaign.
More recently, he guided Dhafra through promotion to the 2012/13 Pro League, via a one-off, four-team play-off. Three months later, Hadziabdic was dismissed following a run of one victory in nine matches.
The Bosnian had hoped to improve on his record at Fujairah, but the club are now in the market for another coach.
Abdulwahab Abdulqadir, the experienced Iraqi who was dismissed by Ajman earlier this summer, is favourite to succeed Hadziabdic.
Abdulqadir’s stock is high despite a disappointing 2013/14 in which Ajman finished 10th. In April 2013, he guided the club to League Cup success – their first trophy in 29 years and second in their history – and was named the Arabian Gulf League’s Coach of the Year. He was surprisingly fired at the end of last season, even though he had plans in place to strengthen the squad for this term.
Fujairah have finalised their foreign roster. The club's four expatriates are Hassan Maatouk, the Lebanese forward retained from their successful Division 1 campaign, and a trio of new signings: Boubacar Sanogo, the former Al Ain striker, and Madjid Bougherra and Hassan Yebda, the Algerian World Cup duo.
Elsewhere, this month's Super Cup match between Al Ahli and Al Ain has been postponed because of the latter's involvement in the Asian Champions League.
The fixture, the traditional curtain-raiser to the UAE football season, was scheduled for September 12, four days before the first leg of Al Ain’s semi-final clash with Al Hilal, to be played in Saudi Arabia.
Ahli agreed to rearrange the Super Cup, citing their support for their UAE counterparts in the continental competition. The Pro League Committee, the Arabian Gulf League’s governing body, said a new date will be announced “in due course”.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter at @SprtNationalUAE