Sevilla president Jose Maria del Nido has been sentenced to seven years in jail for embezzlement and perversion of justice.

The charges related to the Rojiblancos supremo's previous stint as a lawyer for the municipality of Marbella between 1999 and 2003.

Along with former mayor Julian Munoz, Del Nido was accused of devising a scheme to divert money from the city's public accounts.

In 2011, the 56-year-old was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison by a Malaga court after being found guilty of embezzlement, perversion of justice and fraud.

However, upon appeal, the High Court dropped the charge of fraud and removed six months from the sentence.

After previously refusing to resign, Del Nido is to now stand down as Sevilla president after 11 years in charge at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, during which time the club won a Uefa Cup, a Europa League and a Uefa Super Cup.

Indeed, according to reports in Spain, Pepe Castro has already got in touch with the club's ultras to back his imminent bid for the presidency.