Soccer-Sporting Gijon part with coach after four straight defeats

By Richard Martin BARCELONA, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Sporting Gijon parted company with coach Abelardo Fernandez by mutual consent on Tuesday following a downward spiral of results that has left them in the relegation zone. "After a meeting between the club's board of directors today Real Sporting have decided, by mutual agreement with Abelardo Fernandez, that he will leave his role as coach of the first team," the club said in a statement. "The decision has been taken after analysing the team's situation and results. "Real Sporting wishes to show its gratitude for the commitment, effort and professionalism of "Pitu" Abelardo while in charge of the team and for his disposition in signing the agreement to depart the club, which will always be his home. The club wishes him every luck in the future." Fernandez, a native of Gijon, had strong ties to the club, having come through the academy and played as a centre back for them for five years until joining Barcelona in 1994. His first job in management was in charge of the club's reserve side in 2008, a role he reassumed in 2012 until taking over the first team in 2014. Despite being subject to a transfer ban due to the club's financial problems, Abelardo led Sporting back to La Liga after a three-year absence in his first full season. They secured their status top flight status on the final day of the last campaign. His impact has waned in his third season in charge, however, with his side winning just three of 18 league games. They have lost their last four league encounters to leave them 18th in the standings on 12 points, four below 17th-placed Valencia, who also have a game in hand. (Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Toby Davis)