Former president Martin not to stand in Real election

Former president Fernando Martin has said he will not stand in the Real Madrid presidential election on July 2.

Martin took over when Florentino Perez quit in February but only lasted two months in the post before the board decided to call for an election. Martin resigned to be able to stand.

"I have decided not to put myself forward because Real Madrid need to start afresh, with new people at the top, new ideas and new objectives," Martin said in a statement yesterday.

"They need a long-term project with a small team of investors working in the same direction, a sports section with the power to take decisions, and a team of committed players."

So far only former world rally champion Carlos Sainz and construction magnate Juan Miguel Villar Mir have committed themselves to enter a joint bid for the election.

However, yesterday former president Lorenzo Sanz, who was in power when the side won the Champions League in 1998 and 2000, said he was likely to enter the race.

Sanz lost to Perez in 2000 and was overwhelmingly defeated when he stood against Perez's re-election in 2004.

Other possible candidates include leading Spanish businessman Juan Palacios, dissident director Ramon Calderon and lawyer and economist Arturo Baldasano who also lost heavily to Perez in 2004.

Real finished second in the Primera Liga to bring to an end their third successive season without a major trophy, their worst run of form in 52 years.