Voro offers olive branch to Valencia outcasts

New Valencia coach Salvador Gonzalez 'Voro' has said he is willing to allow players discarded by his predecessor Ronald Koeman back into the squad. Former player Voro was handed the job on Monday night following the sacking of Dutchman Koeman.

One of Voro's first tasks has been to build bridges with stalwarts David Albelda, Santiago Canizares and Miguel Angel Angulo. In December, Koeman, with the backing of majority shareholder Juan Soler, told them they would not play for the club again this season.

"They are part of the 25-strong squad and will play if I think they are in the mental and physical condition to do so," Voro told a news conference yesterday.

"They haven't played competitive football for four months and have suffered a difficult situation. I don't want a sporting decision to be interpreted as a political one. I want to make it clear I am free to make my decision on this."

Voro has a huge task in front of him and has to lift a divided squad's morale. They are only two points above the relegation zone, with five games left to play, and have a particularly tough run-in.

Valencia have three home games against direct rivals for the drop Osasuna and Real Zaragoza, and Champions League-chasing Atletico Madrid.

Away from the Mestalla they have a city derby against Levante and a trip to face Barcelona.

"Because of the situation we are in, the job will probably be more that of a psychologist than a coach," he added.

Koeman was sacked six months into a two-and-a-half-year contract late on Monday night, 24 hours after the side suffered a 5-1 mauling against Athletic Bilbao at San Mames.

"I am going, proud of having won a title as important as the King's Cup and want to point out I have gained an experience but have lost something I was very enthusiastic about," Koeman said in a statement.

The side won their seventh King's Cup last Wednesday beating Getafe 3-1 in the final, but that was a rare highlight in a turbulent tenure at the east coast club.

Disgruntled fans had been calling for Koeman to go, and chants against him could be heard as the team paraded the trophy at the end of last week's final.

After Monday's board meeting, president Agustin Morera made the costly decision to sack not only Koeman and his assistants, but also sports director Miguel Angel Ruiz and technical secretary Antonio Fernandez.