Source: Daily_Mail
Gregory back with £67,000-a-year job at Israeli side Maccabi Ahi Nazaret
Back in the game: Gregory John Gregory is back in football - as the £67,000-a-year manager of the bottom club in the Israeli League. The former Aston Villa, Derby and QPR boss, who was earning more than 10 times as much in his Barclays Premier League days, accepted Maccabi Ahi Nazareth's modest offer after despairing of finding a way back into management. He will be paid 55,000 US dollars (£33,500) on a short-term contract, with instructions to save his new club from the drop if he wants a longer, more lucrative deal beyond the end of the season in May. 'The terms are not great, but John knows this is an opportunity that could lead to something better,' said an insider at the club. 'He almost got the manager's job at Maccabi Haifa a couple of years ago, so if he does avoid relegation, he could be in demand over here.' Gregory, who shook hands on his return to management after talks with Ahi Nazareth officials that went on until the early hours of the morning, faces one of the most daunting challenges of his career, trying to revitalise a team who have just nine points from 12 games and are propping up the Ligat Al national table.Two teams are relegated, and Ahi Nazareth made their move for Gregory after sacking their coach Eli Mahpud on Mondaynight. As he took his first training session this afternoon (Tuesday), ahead of next weekend's home game with Beitar Jerusalem, it emerged that his diplomatic as well as coaching skills could be put to the test. Nazareth are an Arabic Israeli team, made up of 12 Arab-origin players with Israeli nationality and seven Jewish players, as well as four from foreign countries. As a further problem for Gregory, former Russia keeper Ruslan Nigmatullin has walked out and returned home after becoming disillusioned with his team's struggles this season. Ex-Rangers boss Dick Advocaat set for AZ Alkmaar talks after Belgian FA grant permission for short-term job shareRussia probe claims stars drank before World Cup play-off exit to SloveniaTHE LIST: Greatest last-gasp goals in the history of British football - 40-31Penalty king Le Tissier offers to help England banish their shoot-out jinxGordon Strachan v Ian Holloway: Sportsmail picks their top 10 funny quotes ahead of Middlesbrough's showdown with BlackpoolASTON VILLA FC