Struggling Racing Santander descended further into chaos when owner Dmitry Piterman sacked coach Manuel Preciado and took over team management himself.

Piterman, a Ukraine-born American businessman, said he was tired of seeing the team languishing just above the relegation zone and had decided that drastic measures were necessary.

Piterman’s first steps in Spanish football were to take over third division Palamos. He later bought control of Santander, one of Spain’s oldest clubs whose star products have included Real Madrid legends Paco Gento and Carlos Santillana.
By Keir Radnedge