Lennartsson leaves Elfsborg

Swedish champions Elfsborg have parted company with head coach Jorgen Lennartsson.

Lennartsson led the club to the Allsvenskan title last season but has left after Elfsborg fell off the pace domestically and failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stages.

Elfsborg sit in sixth after their 1-1 draw with Helsingborg on Sunday, leaving them 11 points behind leaders Malmo.

Youth coach Klas Ingesson will take over for the time being, with chairman Bosse Johansson explaining that the decision has been taken with a view to next season.

“Jorgen has done a fantastic job as head coach,” he said in a statement on the club’s website.

“I want to emphasise that this is a pro-active change ahead of the new, big challenges in 2014.

“We are implementing this change now, to give the team plenty of time to prepare for next season.”

Stefan Andreasson, Elfsborg club manager, added: “Our goal is to be a top team in Swedish football. Klas Ingesson takes over responsibility for the rest of the year, along with Peter Wettergren.

“We hope that the change will also have a positive effect in the short term.”