Zeman survives day of crunch talks but Roma eye Blanc and Malesani as replacements

30/01/2013 3:10:00 AM

The Giallorossi coach's position is under threat if results do not improve, but he will remain for their match against Cagliari, despite reports of disputes with players

By Wayne Veysey

Roma coach Zdenek Zeman will remain at Stadio Olimpico despite the club's officials meeting to discuss his future.

Sporting director Walter Sabatini and general manager Franco Baldini were amongst a group of senior board members who met at the club's Trigoria training complex to talk about the situation at the club, but they have decided the 65-year-old will take charge of the side's match against Cagliari on Friday.

Former France trainer Laurent Blanc and veteran Italian coach Alberto Malesani have been earmarked as possible replacements should performances not improve, though neither would be willing to join the club unless they were offered long-term deals.

Blanc has requested a lucrative 18-month deal while Malesani, who has previously trained Udinese and Parma, is unwilling to act as a stop-gap appointment until the end of the season.

Roma currently lie eighth in Serie A and are nine points off the Champions League places, while Zeman has also been involved with some high-profile disputes with his players.

Midfielder Daniele De Rossi and goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg have both been left out of the starting XI for periods of the campaign, and it is thought that the former Lazio coach may have lost the dressing room.

His position is by no means safe, and a poor result against 16th-placed Cagliari could see his position further under threat.