It was to be expected: FC Erzgebirge Aue parted ways with coach Pavel Dotchev much earlier than announced. The club bosses used the 5-2 defeat at home to SC Verl to make a quick cut after announcing two weeks ago that they would not be extending the contract with the 59-year-old Bulgarian beyond the end of the season. From then on, it was clear to many that the record-breaking coach of the 3rd division would not see out the summer as coach of the Violets.
"We believed in the team and coaching staff even after four defeats in a row. However, the recent performances and results speak for themselves. We've only picked up seven points from our last seven home games, whereas last year we were still the best home team. We currently lack the conviction to achieve a turnaround in this constellation, to get back on the road to success in the long term and to achieve our ambitious goals," explained sporting director Matthias Heidrich. In doing so, he provided the reasoning that he previously could not and would not give when announcing the separation at the end of the season.
