John Toshack has admitted he was not surprised at last night's sacking by Real Sociedad. Toshack was replaced as coach by former goalkeeper Roberto Olabe following a meeting on Monday evening. Real president Jose Luis Astiazaran explained with Real languishing second from bottom of the table following their 2-0 home defeat to Tenerife on Sunday, the time had come for change.
"It didn't surprise me because there are no surprises in football. I imagined something was up when the president called me in the afternoon and then when I saw so many journalists," Toshack told Jose Maria Garcia of Radio station Onda Cero.
The Welshman accepted the decision, which ends his third spell at Real, with good grace. He admitted: "I understand it has been taken for the good of Real Sociedad and I hope it serves to help save the club. I am not going to say or not whether I think it is rushed, I only hope it is correct."
His second spell has seen him direct 51 games with 16 wins, 13 draws and 22 defeats. Although he was able to save Real from the drop last season, his lack of activity in the summer transfer market, coupled with early-season injury problems saw Real slip back into danger, despite investing heavily in former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld, Darko Kovacevic and Nihat over Christmas.
Toshack added: "I don't have a magic broom, but it is hard to explain the root of the problems. That's football. Real have always been special for me, that's why I came back here."
Filed by Shane Murray
