Cairo, Egypt - Egyptian football club Ismaily has decided to sack team coach Hossam Hassan, following the Canal side's surprise 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Arab Contractors in the Egyptian Cup, the local media reported.

The report said an official announcement would be made as soon as issues related to a penalty clause in the coach's contract are resolved, hinting that the club would like to see Hassan resign instead of firing him.

Hassan's assistant Abu Taleb Al-Essawy immediately resigned after Ismaily's quarter-final Cup exit, in a match that saw crowd violence blamed on frustrated Darawish supporters at the Arab Contractors ground in Cairo.

The reported decision taken by new club chairman Raafat Abdel-Atheem came as a surprise, especially that the game was only Hassan's second since taking charge of the team a few weeks back.

Ismaily, which finished third in the league to Al Ahly and Zamalek, has been struggling with finances, losing many key players in the off-season.

Hassan, Egypt's top scorer of all-time, came to Ismaily from Zamalek after failing to guide the White Knights to a league trophy, despite leading the table for most of the season.

Hassan built a strong young squad for his successor at the big Cairo club, Hassan Shehata.

Shehata, Egypt's former boss, will be leading Zamalek against defending Cup champion Border Guards in a semi-final encounter on Saturday.

The other Egyptian Cup semi, to be played also on Saturday, will pitch petroleum outfit ENPPI, conquerors of Ahly in the round of 16, against Arab Contractors.

Egypt's Cup final will be played 11 Oct.

Pana 28/09/2011