Underfire Bulgaria coach stands down

Bulgaria coach Stanimir Stoilov announced his resignation here on Tuesday in the aftermath of his team’s second successive Euro 2012 qualifier defeat.

Bulgaria, beaten 4-0 by England at Wembley on Friday, lost 1-0 at home to Montenegro to prop up Group G, a performance that proved too much for Stoilov with Bulgaria’s chances of qualifying now virtually neglible.

When asked on local television whether that would be his last match in charge he replied: “Very probably yes.”

He then added: “From now on I will be the national team’s and the new manager’s number one fan.”

Stoilov, 43, took over the post at the beginning of 2009.

Bulgarian football supremo Borislav Mihailov accepted the resignation.

“I accept Stoilov’s resignation. The question is who will be his successor,” he told website sportif www.sportal.bg

Mihailov said he believed a caretaker coach would be in place before their next qualifier against Wales in October.