Under-fire Gaspart resigns as Barcelona president

The president of struggling Spanish giants Barcelona, Joan Gaspart, announced his resignation here Wednesday almost three weeks ahead of schedule.

The under-pressure hotel chain boss had announced he would resign from the Catalan club on March 1 in response to the current on-field and off-field crisis at the club.

Gaspart, who will be immediately replaced by Enric Reyna - a member of the board and one of the few club executives who stayed loyal to Gaspart until the bitter end - said his departure was for the sake of the club.

"I'm leaving because I believe it's best for the club. There's nothing more to say," said Gaspart, who denied he was leaving due to health reasons.

According to a club source Gaspart was asked jointly to leave now by the club's executive committee, as well as the sports minister for the local Catalonian regional government, in a bid to provide a trouble-free atmosphere for the new president.

He added: "I want to repeat that I'm not leaving the club because of health reasons, as has been reported. I love Barca more than anyone can imagine."

Barcelona are currently experiencing one of the worst seasons in their history, having slumped to 15th place in the Primera Liga, only two points away from the relegation zone.

Dutch coach Louis van Gaal left the club at the end of January to be replaced by Yugoslav Radomir Antic but the change has failed to immediately revive the club's fortunes.