Soccer-Struggling Deportivo sack coach Garitano after four straight defeats

By Richard Martin

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Deportivo La Coruna announced on Sunday they have sacked coach Gaizka Garitano a day after a humiliating 4-0 defeat to fellow strugglers Leganes which left them hovering above the relegation zone.

The Galicians, without a league win since December, have lost their last four games, culminating in Saturday's embarrassing defeat at Leganes which saw them drop to 17th place, two points above Sporting Gijon in 18th, although they have a game in hand.

The club said in a statement that reserve team coach Cristobal Parralo would take charge of training while a successor for Garitano is found.

According to local media reports, former West Bromwich Albion and Real Betis coach Pepe Mel is the front runner to get the job, while ex-Deportivo player and Espanyol manager Sergio Gonzalez has also been mentioned as a possible candidate.

Garitano rose to prominence in Spain by leading tiny outfit Eibar to back-to-back promotions although in 2015 he resigned from the club he used to play for at the end of their first season in the top flight. They were relegated but later reinstated after Elche's administrative relegation.

He then took over at Valladolid in the Segunda Division A in the summer of 2015 but was sacked little more than two months into the new season. (Reporting by Richard Martin, editing by Neil Robinson)