29.02.2016 17:04 h

Galatasaray to dump coach - reports

Struggling Turkish giants Galatasaray Monday are set to part company with coach Mustafa Denizli after a disastrous stint in charge that lasted barely three months, reports said Monday.

Under the helm of Denizli -- who took charge of the club for the third time in his career -- Galatasaray have slumped to fifth in the Turkish Super Lig after winning the title last season.

The final straw was a 2-0 defeat at the weekend to Gaziantepspor with the coach strongly hinting he had decided to resign.

"I have already taken the decision inside myself... I will share it with the club president (Dursun Ozbek)," Denizli said.

NTV television said Denizli did not take part in training Monday and would bid farewell to the players and meet Ozbek on Tuesday, after which the decision would be made public.

According to Turkish press reports, two names are circulating as a possible successors -- Dutchman Jan Olde Riekerink and the former Turkish international Okan Buruk who currently manages Sivasspor

Denizli was appointed new coach in November following the sacking of Hamza Hamzaoglu, marking a return to his former club for the veteran coach, 66, after a 23-year break.

Denizli had managed Galatasaray on two previous occasions from 1987-1989 and 1990-1992 as well as its Istanbul arch rivals Fenerbahce and Besiktas, the Turkish national team, not to mention sides in Iran and Azerbaijan.

Whoever succeeds Denizli will need to bring the best out of a misfiring side that is packed with international stars like German international Lukas Podolski, Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder and Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

To the despair of its fans, Galatasaray's woeful season means the team will play no part in what is shaping up to be a titanic title battle between its great Istanbul rivals Besiktas and Fenerbahce.

It endured a now customary group stage ejection from the Champions League and was also knocked out of the Europa League by Lazio at the round of 32 stage.

League leaders Besiktas and second place Fenerbahce -- just one point behind their rivals with a game in land -- are due to lock horns later Monday in the biggest game of the season so far.