DUBAI // Former Switzerland Under 21 coach Pierre-Andre Schurmann looks set to take over as Dubai's fourth manager of the season after the Al Awir club parted ways with Ion Marin earlier this week.
Dubai and Schurmann, who has also managed Swiss clubs Lausanne and Neuchatel Xamax, have agreed terms and the club are expected to make a formal announcement once a contract has been signed.
Marin, who took over the reins of the team in early October, has been shown the door following a disappointing campaign in the Pro League, where the team is lying at the bottom of the table with only two points from seven matches.
The Romanian, who had spent the last two seasons with Saudi Arabian club Al Ettifaq and helped them qualify for next year's Champions League by finishing third in the league, had begun his time in charge with a stunning 5-0 win over Al Wasl in an Etisalat Cup match.
Dubai recorded wins over Al Wahda and Emirates as well in that competition, but their League campaign has not gone to plan, with draws against Al Shabab and Wahda being their only points.
"After the disappointing results, the management felt the team needed a change, a new direction," a Dubai club spokesman said. "We have only two points from seven league matches, so the coming period is really important for the team.
"We play Al Wahda in the President's Cup opening round this Saturday and then meet Sharjah in the League. We desperately need to win that game to turn things around."
The club management have also been in talks with the players to understand the reasons for the poor results and find solutions.
Dubai had started the season with Nestor Clausen at the helm, but after just one game, the Argentine was replaced by his assistant Umberto Barberis, who worked as a caretaker until Marin took charge on October 3.
Hassan Abdulrahman, the team's midfielder, refused to blame Marin for the poor results and laid the responsibility with the players.
"We have to blame ourselves because the match is decided on the pitch," he said. "We are in this situation because we have wasted opportunities in every game and our last match against Al Ahli [lost 2-1] illustrates that problem.
"There has been no lack of effort or support from the coach or management. So we the players need to find solutions and do it fast."
arizvi@thenational.ae