After Monday night's defeat to MSV Duisburg, SC Paderborn 07 have decided to part ways with Markus Gellhaus. Assistant coach, Rob Reekers, has also left the club and René Müller will guide the Westphalian side on an interim basis.
A slippery slope
Paderborn's relegation from the Bundesliga culminated with André Breitenreiter leaving for Schalke 04, which handed Gellhaus the post. He has failed to kick-start their challenge frm an immediate return, and they now sit dangerously close to the wrong end of the table. A run of one win in eight games, including six defeats, has made up the minds of the Paderborn board.
"We did not take this decision lightly, but the development of the team and recent results have left us no other choice," said president Wilfried Finke. He described Gellhaus' work as "professional and competent", though it lacked the element of success at the end.
Müller in temporary charge
Müller, the head of Paderborn's youth development, takes charge for the second time as interim coach. He guided the club to safety at the tail end of the 2012-13 campaign, the year before promotion to the top flight was achieved. Finke then gave his reasoning for placing the 41-year-old in temporary charge, "We are sure that René Müller is the right interim coach for us, especially as he well knows the team's situation well."
The game against Duisburg was the tipping point, given that the Zebras had failed to win all season long and Gino Lettieri was set to be sacked if he had lost out. The Italian was spared his job - and still is in charge - after Giorgi Chanturia's solo strike ensured all three points remained at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena.
It is unclear as to who will take over from Gellhaus and Müller, although Peter Neururer is still without a job after Benno Möhlmann took the reins at 1860 Munich. Neururer is known for his time around various clubs in the region, and Paderborn may well be one of his final ventures into management.