Getafe hopeful of hanging on to coach Schuster

MADRID, June 25 (Reuters) Getafe president Angel Torres has said he is hopeful the club can stave off interest from Real Madrid to hang on to their coach Bernd Schuster.

The German has been tipped as the most likely replacement for Fabio Capello, as Real try to make up their minds whether or not to continue with the coach who has just delivered them the Primera Liga title.

''Schuster will be the coach of Getafe next season,'' Torres told Spanish state television yesterday night.

In the Spanish media today he added: ''I continue to believe there could yet be a surprise with Schuster and that he will stay with us. No one from Real Madrid has spoken to me about the subject.'' Torres had reacted angrily last week over rumours that Schuster had already signed a pre-agreement with Real.

Schuster has a contract with Getafe until 2008 and has steered them into the UEFA Cup for the first time.

He also led them to their first King's Cup final, which they lost 1-0 to Sevilla on Saturday.

Real president Ramon Calderon said on Friday he was awaiting a report from the club's sporting department before deciding on Capello's future.

A board meeting widely reported to be have been planned for Monday to discuss the issue has been put off, after Real were crowned Spanish champions for winning the ACB basketball play-offs on Sunday.

That meeting is now expected to take place later this week.

REUTERS BJR HS1434