Polish FA eye coaching changes

Poland's football authorities moved a step closer to sacking coach Pawel Janas yesterday after the government upped pressure for heads to roll following a poor World Cup campaign.

The government has demanded wide-ranging reforms from the country's football association (PZPN) and "swift changes" to the national team set-up after Poland exited the competition at the first hurdle for the second straight World Cup.

"I have agreed in principle that changes will have to be made in the coaching staff," PZPN chief Michal Listkiewicz told a news conference after a meeting with Sports Minister Tomasz Lipiec.

"At the end of the day the staff must be held responsible for the results and the results were not what we hoped for. But we will wait with a final decision on Janas until July 14, when we approve his report on the team."

The Poles' expectations of at least making the second round were scuppered by defeats to Germany and Ecuador before a consolation victory over Costa Rica in their last group game.

Listkiewicz has defended Janas's record over his three years in charge, but sources at PZPN said he and other officials were leaning towards sacrificing the coach to stave off pressure from ministers for a wider clearout.