BARCELONA, Spain -- Tito Vilanova is stepping down as Barcelonas coach following a recurrence of throat cancer, just a month before Lionel Messi and his teammates begin the defence of their Spanish league title. Club president Sandro Rosell told a hurriedly called news conference at Barcelonas training facility on Friday that Vilanova will "follow a treatment" that will be "incompatible" with staying on as coach. Rosell said that a new head coach would be named next week and that Barcelona was cancelling its first friendly of the preseason, scheduled to be played in Poland on Saturday against Lechia Gdansk. Spanish media was rife with speculation that little-known Joan "Rubi" Ferrer would replace Vilanova. Ferrer was hired on June 28 as Barcelonas new assistant coach after his strong season with Catalan club Girona in the second division. The 44-year-old Vilanova had twice previously had to take a medical break from his duties at Barcelona, once as Pep Guardiolas assistant in the 2011-12 season and again as its manager last season. In his single season in charge he led Barcelona to the Spanish league title with a record-tying point 100 points. "This is a piece of news I would have never in my life wanted to give," Rosell told a packed media room including Barcelonas first team with Messi and captain Carles Puyol. "After evaluating the results of the routine tests and checkups for Tito Vilanova, the option arose of following a treatment that will be incompatible with the development of the responsibilities as the coach of the first team," Rosell said. Vilanova was not in attendance. Vilanova had battled the recurrent tumour in a saliva gland for the past two years, coming back to coach each time. He first fell ill in Nov. 2011 and had to have surgery. He then had a second tumour removed last December and travelled to New York several times to receive further treatment. In his absence last season, assistant Jordi Roura took over. First as Guardiolas assistant, Vilanova provided the tactical know-how that helped his boss forge one of the best teams in the history of the sport -- winning 14 of a possible 19 titles from 2008-2012, including two Champions League trophies. As a young player, Vilanova spent six years at Barcelonas training academy -- from 1984-90 -- but never made it to the topflight team, going on to play for clubs such as Celta Vigo and Mallorca before his playing career was cut short by a serious knee injury. That injury led Vilanova into coaching and to Barcelonas cadets, tutoring current first-team players Messi, Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique. Vilanova moved on from Barcelona to work as sport director at third division club Terrassa before answering Guardiolas call to help him take Barca B up from the third division in 2007-08. Wholesale Nike Air Max 1 . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. White Nike Air Max 1 . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. http://www.airmax1cheap.com/ . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Nike Air Max 1 From China . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Black Nike Air Max 1 . There was no hesitation from the 40th-ranked Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., who admitted that he cut back on his training sessions over the last few days to conserve energy as the long ATP season finishes next week at the Paris Masters. A Matt Faddes hat-trick eased the Highlanders to a comprehensive victory over the Southern Kings at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.The defending Super Rugby champions - who left five All Blacks at home after their 3-0 series win over Wales was wrapped up last weekend - only led 10-8 at half-time and 20-18 at the 65-minute mark before blowing away from their opponentts.dddddddddddd.Dan Pryor, Jack Wilson, Patrick Osborne and Ali Seiuli all scored for the visitors as they claimed a bonus-point victory.Wandile Mjekevu and Steven Sykes touched down for the Kings, who lost their 11th match in 13 attempts this season. ' ' '