Moreno handed mighty task of rescuing Levante

Jose Angel Moreno has accepted the poisoned chalice of being the coach of struggling Spanish first division side Levante for the remainder of the season, the club confirmed on Thursday.

Former coach Gianni De Biasi resigned from his post on Wednesday to take over at Torino in his native Italy.

Moreno, formerly club’s reserve team technical director and their third coach of the season, takes over at Levante with the club marooned at the bottom of the Spanish first division and seemingly destined for the drop.

If Levante lose at home to beaten Spanish Cup finallists Getafe on Sunday, and 17th-placed Recreativo manage to get a point at Real Zaragoza 24 hours earlier, then they will be relegated after just two seasons in the top flight of Spanish football.

The Valencia-based club may yet face further humiliation as they have large debts and have struggled to pay staff wages.

Much of the first team squad are still owed several months back pay, which has led to the players going public with their grievances in recent months and even staging a ‘stay away’ protest from training.

Levante have until June 30 to clear all such debts or face being relegated one more division for financial mismanagement.