Hapoel Kiryat Shmona missed the chance to clinch their first-ever Ligat Ha’Al title after going down 1-0 at home to Bnei Yehuda.

Victory would have handed Kiryat Shmona the championship, but the surprise defeat, following a 73rd minute effort from Shalev Menashe, still leaves them 16 points clear of Hapoel Tel Aviv, with only six games remaining.

Meanwhile, Kiryat Shmona chairman Izzy Sheratzky has confirmed that Gili Landau will take over as manager next season after contract talks broke down with current boss Ran Ben Shimon.

Sheratzky said: "It hurts me that I won't be carrying on with Ran. I offered him a new contract and even a $600,000 bonus if we reach the group stages of the Champions League, but he wanted an exit clause. An exit to where I don't know."

* Jordi Cruyff, the former Manchester United and Barcelona midfielder, is set to be appointed sporting director of Maccabi Tel Aviv for next season.