Football
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Granada replace manager Abel Resino with Jose Ramon Sandoval

Granada have appointed Jose Ramon Sandoval as their coach until the end of the season.

Sandoval, the former Rayo Vallecano and Sporting Gijon coach, succeeds Abel Resino, who was sacked in the wake of Thursday night's 2-1 Primera Division home defeat to Espanyol.

The Andalusian club are currently six points from safety with four games of the league season remaining after Resino's brief reign.

Former Atletico Madrid coach Resino had only taken only 11 points from a possible 45 after taking over from Joaquin Caparros in January and Granada had failed to win any of his last eight games.

An official club statement on Friday afternoon said change was necessary to maintain Granada's top-flight status.

"The club remains confident that staying up is possible and it has been decided to focus on bringing in a new coach to lead the Rojiblanco in the last four league games,'' said the Granada statement.

An earlier statement announcing Resino's departure said: "The results obtained by the team in recent days have forced this difficult decision to be taken.

"Granada CF thanks Abel Resino for his work and professionalism and wishes him all the luck in the future."

Madrid-born Sandoval, 46, was appointed Rayo coach in June 2010 and won promotion in his first season in charge to end the club's eight-year wait for La Liga football.

Sandoval left Rayo in June 2012 after they had finished 15th in the top flight and he took charge of Sporting Gijon the following October.

He was relieved of his duties at Gijon in May 2014 with the team lying seventh in the second division.

Sandoval will take his first Granada training session on Friday evening ahead of Sunday's vital league game at Getafe.

Granada's last three games of the season are at home to bottom-placed Cordoba and reigning champions Atletico, and away to David Moyes' Real Sociedad.

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