Del Bosque to remain with Besiktas
 |  Del Bosque (right) signed a two-year deal when joining Besiktas in June |
| |
ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Vicente del Bosque is staying on as Besiktas coach, despite a dismal start to the season for the 2003 Turkish champions.
It was widely reported that Besiktas were looking to sack del Bosque following their most recent defeat, a humiliating 3-2 loss at home to Ankaraspor last weekend.
After a key board meeting on Monday, spokesman Reha Muhtar told reporters that no immediate decision to sack the coach had been made.
However, he refused to rule out that Besiktas were still looking for ways to fire him. Muhtar instead called on fans to support Besiktas ahead of Thursday's home UEFA Cup match against Bodo of Norway.
"It wouldn't be right to take any radical decision before such a match," said Muhtar. "Nothing should destroy our players' motivation. Of course, everything is being evaluated. Everything."
Del Bosque took charge of Besiktas in June, with the team claiming only one victory this season, a 4-1 win against Sakaryaspor on September 12.
Besiktas languish in 13th place with six points -- 13 points behind league leaders Fenerbahce and Trabzonspor.
The former Real Madrid coach took over from Romanian Mircea Lucescu, who resigned following a series of losses in the second half of last season that saw the team drop from first to third place.
His contract runs until June 2006.
