Croatian team Hajduk Split on Wednesday sacked coach Ivan Pudar after just four months in the job and one week ahead of the second leg in the UEFA Cup second preliminary round against Sampdoria.

The club terminated Pudar's contract because of a poor start to the domestic season, which sees the team lying in fourth place with two wins and three draws.

Croatian media reported that Hajduk Split were in talks with Slovenian Srecko Katanec, currently coaching Macedonia, and Czech Zdenek Zeman to take over the reins.

A former goalkeeper with Hajduk between 1979-90, Pudar was the club's 11th coach in seven seasons.

Beaten 1-0 at home in the first leg, Hajduk travel to Genoa on 30 August for the second leg of the UEFA Cup qualifier.