Former Wales boss Chris Coleman on brink of sack at Hebei China Fortune with club in relegation zone

CHRIS COLEMAN is on the brink at Hebei China Fortune after fans called for his sacking.

The ex-Wales boss has won just one of nine Chinese Super League games this season, leaving his second-bottom side from near Beijing in the relegation zone.

Hebei set Coleman the goal of reaching the Asian Champions League – which needs a top-three finish – term but the club have suffered a miserable set of results.

That led to angry fans calling for Coleman’s head during the 3-2 home defeat to Henan Jianye last Saturday.

Supporters held a banner written in both Chinese and English, reading: “Hello Mr Coleman, please go home! You’re fired!!!”

Coleman has been in Beijing for just 11 months, having signed a two-and-a-half year deal worth more than £3.5million a season to replace Manuel Pellegrini in June 2018.

The 48-year-old guided Hebei to a much-improved sixth-placed finish last term but the side, including ex-Liverpool and Barcelona star Javier Mascherano, have declined since then.

And Coleman has won just seven of his 30 games.

Hebei were forced to release an open letter to fans last week apologising following the toughest start to a season in the club’s history.

The statement read: “We let you down and we can’t make any excuses for the recent performances. We have to say to you: sorry.”

The current troubles are a far cry from Coleman’s most successful stint as a manager when he led Wales to the Euro 2016 semi-finals in France.

The former Fulham, Real Sociedad and Coventry chief resigned as national boss to take over at Sunderland following the failure to reach the 2018 World Cup.

But Coleman failed to keep the Black Cats in the Championship and was axed 12 months ago before his move to China.