Josean Fernández Matxin confirms that he will not continue as a sports director at Lampre-Merida next season. That's the understanding the Basque has after he has not received a call from commercial manager Giuseppe Saronni.

Josean Fernandez Matxin begain his career at Mapeir and Vini Caldirola before he took over the leadership - together with Mauro Gianetti - of Saunier Duval in 2004. The team continued until the end of the 2011 season, riding the final year under the Geox name. In 2014 he signed a contract with Lampre-Merida.

"It is clear that I will not be with Lampre next year," he tells ETB. "It is a decision taken solely by Lampre. I would have liked to continue but until now I have not spoken with Giuseppe Saronni who makes the decisions, and it gives me a hint that thet have decided to hire other sports directors."

Recently, the Italian team announced the appointment of Philippe Mauduit and Mario Scirea and confirmed that Orlando Maini, Marco Marzano, Simone Pedrazzini, Daniele Righi and Bruno Vicino will continue as sports directors.

"I am 43 years old and not consider myself as a person from the past. I had planned to finish my career as sports director at 47 or 48 years of age," Matxin says. "I would like to find a new team where I can train and educate young riders."