PRAGUE (AFP) - Sparta Prague president Jozef Chovanec will have a double role to play for the remaining two games of the season as he takes over the manager's job left vacant by the resignation of Michal Bilek.

Sparta suffered what could be a costly loss at home to Banik Ostrava on Saturday, a defeat which left them two points adrift of arch city rivals Slavia ahead of Saturday's final day.

That prompted Bilek to tender his resignation, initially planned for the end of the season, with Chovanec stepping up to fill the vacancy.

"Two important matches are coming up. It was better for everyone if we accepted the manager's resignation straight away," said Sparta club spokesman Jakub Otava.

Saturday's last shot at the title is against Slovan Liberec who in one of those quirky twists of the fixture programme Sparta also meet in Tuesday's Czech Cup final.