La Liga: Laudrup steps down as Mallorca coach
La Liga: Laudrup steps down as Mallorca coach
Michael Laudrup resigned citing his deteriorating relationship with club vice president.

Mallorca, Spain: Michael Laudrup resigned as coach of Spanish club Mallorca on Tuesday, citing his deteriorating relationship with club vice president Lorenzo Serra Ferrer and disagreements over transfer policy.

"Mallorca will be whatever Serra Ferrer wants it to be," Laudrup said. "It cannot be that every day I go home frustrated and angry."

Laudrup's decision to leave came one day after his assistant Erik Larsen was fired for calling Serra Ferrer a "bad person."

The former Danish player had been critical of the club's decision to sell several players, including striker Pierre Webo, during the offseason.

The 47-year-old Laudrup joined Mallorca last summer. After staying in the middle of table for most of the season, his team barely avoided relegation on the final day.

Mallorca, part owned by tennis star Rafael Nadal, is in 11th place after winning their second game of the season on Sunday.

Mallorca is one of several of Spain's topflight clubs that has had to seek bankruptcy protection in recent years. Its new executive board has carried out an austerity policy.

Mallorca president Jaume Cladera told The Associated Press in an interview this summer that Laudrup had "performed a miracle" in his first season building a team made of many new players on a limited budget.

But earlier this month Laudrup chastised the club for the sale of midfielder Jonathan De Guzman, saying that "the team should have had a substitute ready".

Laudrup expressed his disappointment for the lack of planning again on announcing his departure.

"I didn't come here for the money. I came because it was a nice project," Laudrup said.

Laudrup said the conflict between the coaches and club officials had contributed to Mallorca's lackluster play this season, including three straight defeats without scoring a goal.

"The team is being affected by this," he said.

Mallorca spokesman Jordi Jimenez told The AP that Laudrup and the club would meet later on Tuesday to negotiate his exit.

"We have to look for the best solution possible," Jimenez said. "The coach has demonstrated his wish to sit down and negotiate the end to a situation that is affecting the team, and we hope that we can reach the best possible end."

Laudrup's assistant Larsen was fired on Monday after telling Danish news website Sporten.dk that Serra Ferrer "wants to control everything in the club, but he doesn't know how to do it."

"At the bottom, he is a bad person for how he treats everyone at the club," Larsen was quoted as saying. "I will pay for your dinner if you find someone who can say something good about him."

Laudrup has also coached Spartak Moscow, Getafe and Brondby.

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