Abelardo Fernandez has been named new coach of Espanyol to the end of the season.

The former Sporting Gijon and Alaves boss is Los Periquitos' third coach of the season, with both David Gallego and Pablo Machin having been dismissed.

Abelardo arrives with the goal of lifting a club who have been in freefall in recent months, as exemplified by their standing at the bottom of LaLiga Santander.

Inaki Tejada and Tomas Hervas will also join the coaching team, while Abelardo will oversee his first training session on December 30 at the Ciudad Deportiva Dani Jarque.

Espanyol are currently bottom of the LaLiga table.