Ex-Barca chief dismayed by Pep departure

Former Barcelona president Joan Laporta has blamed the club's board for the departure of manager Pep Guardiola.

Laporta has also criticised the decision to appoint Tito Vilanova as Guardiola's replacement, claiming that the club did not spend enough time considering a wider range of candidates. Laporta was succeeded as Barca president by Sandro Rosell and has been heavily critical of the way that several aspects of the club have been run since his departure. Guardiola announced his decision to step down as manager of Barcelona, citing the fatigue and stress of the job as the chief reasons behind his departure. But Laporta claims that the development could have been avoided. "I have known the board members for many years and they have a different concept of what the club should be. It is a panic decision [to appoint Vilanova] after not having done more for Guardiola," he said. "Barca are in a cycle of change and Guardiola dared not to do so because he did not have enough support from the board."