Partizan Belgrade coach Ivan Tomic stepped down after Sunday’s 2-1 Serbian first division defeat at promoted Napredak Krusevac compounded the club’s awful start to the new season, club officials said.

“We accepted Tomic’s resignation after the fans, who have stayed loyal to the club through the thick and thin, asked him to leave,” sports director Ivica Iliev said.

“Tomic had a great vision of how the club should move forward but unfortunately we have hit a wall very early into the season and now have to reshuffle the cards,” he said.

“We will name a new coach as soon as possible but will not be rushed as we have to get it right.”

Belgrade media have touted Partizan’s former coaches Marko Nikolic and Vladimir Vermezovic as well as former Serbia boss Radovan Curcic as Tomic’s likely replacements.

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