Rayo Vallecano vs Espanyol preview - Jemez threatens Rayo departure

Posted Saturday, December 20, 2014 by PA

Paco Jemez has announced he will leave Rayo Vallecano at the end of the season if the club do not meet his salary demands.

The coach took over the Vallecas outfit in 2012 but his current contract expires in 2015. Speaking in a press conference before Rayo's home game with Espanyol on Saturday, Jemez explained he was in negotiations with the club to renew his contract for another year, hinting that the process was not going entirely smoothly.

He said: "I don't think I am asking for anything crazy, I am asking for what I think I am worth. If Rayo think they cannot meet what I'm asking for then that's no problem, I will always be grateful for everything they have given me, which is the opportunity to be a Primera Division coach.

"I'm in a position to demand certain things and if they accept, then great, and if they don't, then that's fine."

Jemez did commit to staying at Rayo until the end of the season - in light of Cosmin Contra departing Getafe at the end of this month to coach in China - but admitted he would be tempted by a hypothetical offer to work at Atletico Madrid should Diego Simeone depart the Vicente Calderon next year.

"Right now I have a contract and I'm very happy, but if at the end of the season I don't renew, I hope I'll have a team, and I could go to any team," he said.

"Atletico would be a great team to coach, because any coach would want to work there, but there is a coach there with a contract and he deserves respect."

However Jemez insisted he hopes his contract dispute with Rayo is resolved soon.

"There are many rumours about vacant managerial jobs and we hope the job at Rayo does not become vacant."

Jemez also confirmed that goalkeeper Tono has been suspended from the club for two weeks - for which he will not receive a salary - as punishment for speaking on his mobile phone during a team meeting.

"Tono is a great professional, a very respectful guy who is dearly loved in the dressing room, but he has made a mistake," said Jemez.

Goalkeeper David Cobeno, defender Ze Castro and Mohammed Fatau will also miss the game with Espanyol through injury, while the visitors' only absentee is the suspended Jose Canas.

Espanyol and Rayo are level on points at the moment, with the Catalans beating Granada 2-1 in the last game, while Rayo were beaten 3-0 at Valencia.