Scotland’s Euro rivals Gibraltar axe manager

Gibraltar playing Hibs in a pre-season friendly. Picture: Contributed

Gibraltar have sacked their manager just four games into their maiden European Championship qualifying campaign – four weeks before they face Scotland.

The British Overseas Territory – population just 29,000 – made its first senior international appearance with a friendly against Slovakia in November 2013 after becoming the 54th nation to join Uefa as a full member earlier this year.

The team is taking part in a major competition for the first time and have lost all four of their Euro 2016 qualifiers so far, conceding 21 goals and scoring none to leave them bottom of Group D.

Although they managed a 1-0 win over Malta in a friendly match, they have lost their only competitive games to Poland (7-0), Republic of Ireland (7-0), Georgia (3-0) and world champions Germany (4-0). But despite the heavy defeats coming as no surprise, manager Allen Bula has been removed ahead of the game against Scotland at Hampden Park on 29 March.

A statement yesterday announced 50-year-old Bula’s immediate departure. It read: “The Gibraltar Football Association can confirm that it has parted company with national A team manager Allen Bula, with immediate effect.

“After a thorough and careful investigation, into internal matters, the Gibraltar FA has come to the decision that an immediate change was appropriate. It is not a decision that has been reached lightly or hastily.

“The Gibraltar FA is committed to safeguarding football on the Rock and ensuring that the national team remains the pinnacle of Gibraltarian football. Consequently the search for a new Gibraltar national team manager will begin immediately.

“The Gibraltar FA would like thank Allen Bula for all the work he has done in his time as manager of the Gibraltar national team and take this opportunity to wish him all the success in the future.”