Tercera División club Lorca FC have launched an app that will allow fans to have their say on the line-up, substitutions and formation changes.
Lower-league Spanish club Lorca FC have raised eyebrows by announcing that they are to let their supporters pick the team via a mobile app.
The Murcia-based club, who play in Tercera División, the regionalised fourth tier of Spanish football, tweeted on Thursday: "We bring you the app that will give you the chance to test out your abilities as the coach of a REAL team, welcome to REAL FOOTBALL MANAGER."
"On Sunday, you're in charge," Lorca said in a further tweet, before adding. "It's so tough to decide: who stays on the bench? Who should come on? What formation fits the players best?"
Fans will not only be able to vote for their preferred starting XI, but also have their say on substitutions and changes of formation, Lorca explained. However, local newspaper La Opinión de Murcia has reported that head coach Walter Caprile will retain a degree of decision-making authority.'
"It's about democratising football," said Lorca FC president Roberto Torres, who recently appointed Caprile in place of Walter Pandiani after the former Deportivo La Coruña, Espanyol, Osasuna and Villarreal striker left the club at the end of December.
Lorca, who sit seventh in Tercera División Group 3 - four points off the promotion play-off places - visit El Palmar this weekend in matchday 20 of the league season.