Ismaili coach Emad Soliman told Ismaili that he intends to leave them following their Champions League tie at Reunion Island's US Tamponnaise, FilGoal.com has learnt. Soliman took over at the club following the sacking of Serbian Nebojsa Vuckovic, under whom Ismaili lost and drew in their first two Egyptian Premier League games. However, Ismaili, who were not helped by a string of injuries to several key players, continued to suffer from inconsistency to slip from second to fifth spot in the league table. The last season's runners-up are now 15 points behind bitter rivals and leaders Ahli, who are close to winning a sixth consecutive league title. Ismaili chairman Nasr Aboul-Hassan gave Soliman a vote of confidence on several occasions but he seems to have lost his patience. "We are considering making some changes in the technical staff," Aboul-Hassan told FilGoal.com without further elaboration. The changes are most likely to affect Soliman, who might lead Ismaili for the last time when they face Tamponnaise away from home in the second leg of the Champions League round of 32 on Saturday. The Dervishes, who won Africa's premier club competition once in 1969, will be looking to defend a 3-1 first-leg advantage. Ismaili are often lauded for their intricate passing and free-flowing football but are criticized for lacking the needed efficiency to add to their uncrowded trophy cabinet. They won the last of their three league titles in 2002 after beating off competition from Ahli.
