Bulgaria in disarray after successive defeats

SOFIA (Reuters) -- Pointless and looking for a new coach after two Euro 2012 qualifiers, Bulgaria could face further disarray after outgoing coach Stanimir Stoilov said captain Stilian Petrov could follow him out of the door.

Stoilov resigned after a 1-0 home defeat by Montenegro on Tuesday, four days after Bulgaria were thumped 4-0 by England at Wembley.

Petrov replaced all-time leading scorer Dimitar Berbatov as captain in May, a week after the Manchester United striker announced he was leaving the national team.

"Stilian also said he might quit," Stoilov said soon after leaving his post. "But I hope he'll change his mind and I also want Berbatov to return. Bulgaria need them."

Petrov quit international football in 2006 after a row with former coach Hristo Stoichkov, only to return five months later. He has since refused to speak with local media after receiving some strong criticism.

Bulgaria's sporting director Nasko Sirakov said he may also resign in the wake of Bulgaria's dismal back-to-back defeats.

"It's a tragedy for our football and for our national team," he said.

"I came to help the lads and the team but it seems that I didn't cope with my task... I don't think I'll continue my work."

Bulgaria visit Wales on Oct. 8 in their next qualifier and the BFU has already began their search for a new coach.

"The problem is that we don't have much time as we meet Wales next month," said BFU president Borislav Mihaylov. "It's too early to say who'll replace Stoilov, we may appoint someone on a temporary basis."

Mihaylov added: "It's not a good idea to appoint a foreign coach."

"We can't afford a famous foreign coach. But you can't be sure with it. Look what happened with Russia, they have a very expensive coach but still they're losing at home too..."