Gent chairman only learnt of Ivan Leko’s departure to Club Brugge via the press | OneFootball

Club Brugge did not hang around on Monday in making changes. The side sacked Nicky Hayen and moved immediately to bring Ivan Leko back from the club. However, while Club Brugge clearly had a quick agreement with Leko, Gent chairman Sam Baro told HLN he hadn’t been contacted by Leko’s new employers. Baro said ‘I just learned through the press that Nicky Hayen has been fired from Club Brugge and that Ivan Leko is his successor’. Baro and Gent only appointed Leko in the summer and hoped he would be their head coach for a few seasons at least. However, the news came as a surprise to Baro, who went on to say ‘I’m as stunned as anyone. All I can say is that Club Brugge hasn’t contacted us’.

The former Gent head coach will have a tough first task; preparing the side for a Champions League clash with high flying Arsenal. The Gunners look set to end a decades long wait for a Premier League title this season and have won all five of their Champions League games so far this season. Club Brugge are still in with a chance of qualifying for the next round, having won one, drawn one and lost three of their games so far. While the Arsenal game will be seen as a free hit, a point could really help them going into their final two games against Kairat Almaty and Marseille.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson