Macedonia sack coach

THE Republic of Ireland’s 0-2 victory in Skopje proved the final straw for Macedonia coach Mirsad Jonuz, who was axed yesterday by the country’s Football Federation (FFM).

“We will name the new coach in the next 15 days after the FFM executive board convenes to decide who should replace Jonuz,” the body’s spokesman Zoran Nikolovski confirmed.

“The decision to fire Jonuz was unanimous after all 15 members of the FFM executive board voted in its favour,” said Nikolovski.

Jonuz took over from Slovenian Srecko Katanec in May 2009 during an unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup but Macedonia, who have never reached a major tournament as an independent nation, failed to make any progress under him.

They are fifth in Ireland’s Euro 2012 Group B with just four points from six games and have no realistic hope of a securing a place at the finals in Poland and Ukraine. Macedonia’s next match is away to our rivals Russia on Sept 2, the night Ireland entertain Slovakia.