Club Brugge part ways with coach Leekens

Club Brugge KV have announced the departure of coach Georges Leekens in the wake of Sunday's 1-0 home league loss to SV Zulte Waregem.

The defeat was Club Brugge's fourth domestic reverse in a row, meaning the side are winless in six in Belgium's top flight. The Blauw-Zwart have also lost two of their three UEFA Europa League Group D games to date, most recently suffering a 1-0 setback at Newcastle United FC on matchday three.

"Club Brugge have decided to terminate our relationship with head coach Georges Leekens and assistant Rudi Verkempinck," the club announced. "Until the appointment of a new head coach, reserve team coach Philippe Clement will lead training in collaboration with other staff members."

The 63-year-old Leekens spent nine years at the club during his playing career and returned for a second spell in charge during the summer after leaving his post as coach of Belgium. Brugge made a good start to the league season, staying unbeaten in their first ten, but after taking only two points from their last six matches the club sit in eighth place, six points behind joint leaders Zulte Waregem and RSC Anderlecht.

Brugge host Newcastle on Thursday on matchday four, and a win would move them to within a point of the section frontrunners.