Steven Gerrard's plans for Al-Ettifaq have suffered another bitter blow following the appointment of assistant coach Ian Foster in the top job at Championship side Plymouth Argyle.
Foster moved with Gerrard to Saudi Arabia over the summer after leaving his role as head coach of England's under-20 squad, and Gerrard is likely to feel even more vulnerable in the Kingdom in the throes of a challenging first season.
His Saudi Pro League side has now gone two months without a win in the division after they conceded a last-minute equaliser against Al-Hazm at the end of December.