Gibraltar have sacked manager Allen Bula four games into their European Championship qualifying campaign.
Gibraltar, who joined the UEFA as a full member in May 2013, has lost all four of their Euro 2016 qualifiers, conceding 21 goals and scoring nil, and are bottom of Group D.
The team has been beaten by Poland (7-0), Republic of Ireland (7-0), Georgia (3-0) and world champions Germany (4-0) and next play against Scotland at Hampden Park on March 29.
A statement on www.gibraltarfa.com on Monday announced 50-year-old Bula's immediate departure.
'The Gibraltar Football Association can confirm that it has parted company with national A team manager Allen Bula, with immediate effect.
'After a thorough and careful investigation, into internal matters, the Gibraltar FA has come to the decision that an immediate change was appropriate. It is not a decision that has been reached lightly or hastily.
'The Gibraltar FA is committed to safeguarding football on the Rock and ensuring that the national team remains the pinnacle of Gibraltarian football. Consequently the search for a new Gibraltar national team manager will begin immediately.
Gibraltar (left) suffered a 7-0 defeat at the hands of the Republic of Ireland in October last year
'The Gibraltar FA would like thank Allen Bula for all the work he has done in his time as manager of the Gibraltar national team and take this opportunity to wish him all the success in the future.'
Allen Bula was ‘shocked and disappointed’ yesterday by the decision taken by the Gibraltar FA Council, saying that the reasons for his dismissal are based on two points which he ‘totally disagrees with.’ “These points I am not at liberty to say at present,” he said.
Bula received his dismissal letter yesterday morning via e-mail, one hour before it was announced on the association’s web-site.
Bula said he will receive no compensation and when asked whether he would take the association to court for unfair dismissal, he would not comment on the matter.
He evaluated his reign as ‘successful’ thanks to the ‘hard work’ of most of his back-room staff, the players and the supporters. “I am currently doing my UEFA Pro licence and will concentrate on this, as well as looking for another job. I agree that the dismissal is bad timing for the squad, but I am sure the GFA council knows what they are doing.”
The GFA refused to comment on the reasoning behind the dismissal and whether there was any criminal activity found during the investigations. The nature of the issue is not being made public. As a consequence, the secrecy of the move is fuelling speculation.
The association also declined to comment on any leads they may have on a successor and on whether the dismissal was ‘bad timing’ for the Scotland match later this month.
The change of coach comes just a few weeks after the Gibraltar FA president, Desmond Reoch, stepped down from his position, citing ‘personal reasons’ for his departure...
UPDATE - 6 March
Wilson leads Gibraltar against Scotland
Gibraltar has appointed David Wilson as their interim coach to take charge of the UEFA EURO 2016 Group D qualifier against his native Scotland in Glasgow on 29 March.
Wilson had been assistant to Allen Bula, who this week left the role he had held since Gibraltar's first official fixture against Slovakia in November 2013.
The 40-year-old Wilson will name his squad to visit Scotland on Tuesday while the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) hopes to name a permanent coach ahead of the visit of Germany to Faro on 13 June.
Comments
(See update - Ed)
time to get behind the Little Rockies
singalong please
When you walk through Spain
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the border
At the end of the barrier
Is a golden rock
And the sweet silver cry of monkeys
Sail on through the med
Walk up through the rock
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone
When you walk through customs
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the delays
At the end of the controls
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the Rockies
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on walk on with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk
You'll never walk
You'll never walk alone.