Preud'homme the man for Standard

R. Standard de Liège have parted company with coach Johan Boskamp after a poor start to the season, replacing the Dutchman with former Belgium goalkeeper Michel Preud'homme, the club's sporting director.

European blow
The 47-year-old Preud'homme takes over a side sitting 16th in the 18-team Belgian top flight with just two points from four games, and also eliminated from the UEFA Champions League following their third qualifying round defeat by FC Steaua Bucuresti. Boskamp, a 57-year-old one-time Dutch international, was appointed in the summer after a spell with Stoke City FC in the English second division.

Mixed feelings
Preud'homme, who has signed a contract until June 2008, said: "I am disappointed that the technical staff we put together in May and June has had to be disbanded, but I will commit myself fully to this new challenge." In order to do so, the former Standard, KV Mechelen and SL Benfica custodian will quit his job on the Belgian Football Association's technical committee. Standard take on RC Celta de Vigo in the UEFA Cup first round on 14 and 28 September.