Esteghlal's ex-German coach denies being fired

IRNA - The former German coach of Iran's first division football powerhouse Esteghlal-e Tehran said he resigned and was not fired for his ex-team's dismal showing in the Azadegan league, the bi-weekly kicker sports magazine said Monday. 
"The contract was dissolved on my initiative. Reports saying that I was fired are wrong," stressed Roland Koch. 
"The club's president had offered me a contract extension," the 50-year-old trainer added. 
Koch cited 'catastrophic conditions' for his resignation. "We had no practice ground and often did not know in the evenings where to practice the next morning. The same goes for the league games." 
Esteghlal, one of this season's championship favorites, is currently ranked seventh with 29 points out of 21 games, lagging 16 points behind league leader Zobahan-e Isfahan.