Panathinaikos part with Shum

Meeting held
The club's major shareholder Yiannis Vardinoyiannis reached the decision following a meeting with the Israeli coach and team manager Velimir Zajec. Shum was reported to have differences with Zajec on several issues, including some of the club's signings.

No reasons given
Shum becomes the second coaching casualty of the new campaign in Greece after FC PAOK fired Angelos Anastasiadis last week. He said: "I leave as a friend, but now it's not the time to elaborate on the reasons of this split. I hope that the team will remain where I have left them now, in first place."

Double winners
Shum led Panathinaikos to the Greek double last season, including their first title in eight years, and with it qualification for the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League group stage. They won 2-1 at home on Matchday 1 against Rosenborg BK before going down 1-0 at PSV Eindhoven last Wednesday. After three games of the new domestic season, Panathinaikos are top of the Alpha Ethniki with a 100 per cent record.

Notable achievement
The 56-year-old Shum joined Panathinaikos in June 2003 after a successful spell at Maccabi Haifa FC in his homeland. In the 2002/03 season, he helped Maccabi become the first Israeli side to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League where they secured victories against Manchester United FC and Greek champions Olympiacos CFP.