Crisis club Hertha Berlin fire coach Korkut after three months

Berlin (dpa) – Hertha Berlin have responded to a five-game losing streak which has seen them plunge into the Bundesliga relegation zone by firing coach Korkut after about three months in charge.

“After an in-depth analysis of the current sporting situation, Hertha BSC have relieved Tayfun Korkut and (assistant) Ilija Aračić of their duties with immediate effect,” Hertha said Sunday. “A successor will be announced in due course.”

The Berliners lost 2-0 away to Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday to extend their winless run in the Bundesliga to nine games. They are 17th, below VfB Stuttgart in the play-off spot on goal difference.

Korkut, 47, was appointed late November in succession to Pal Dardai but could win just two of his league games in charge and oversaw a German Cup loss to city rivals Union Berlin.

“After a promising start with seven points from the first four games and a positive trend, we’ve now clearly analysed the performances and results from the nine games in the second half of the season,” chief executive Fredi Bobi told the club homepage.

“We’re currently in the relegation zone. We’ve got eight games left to pick up the points we need to stay up.

“We’ll do all we can to do that and we want this decision to ensure that everybody involved knows how serious this situation is. We are hoping this fresh start can have a positive impact.”

Hertha welcome Hoffenheim next weekend before the international break would then permit their new boss some time to get to know the squad.

But the atmosphere in the club as a whole is currently far from positive. Angry fans interrupted training after the cup loss to Union and differences in opinion between the board and investor Lars Windhorst are being aired in public.

Bobic, recruited from Eintracht Frankfurt who he turned around superbly, will also come under scrutiny after his decision to appoint Korkut who was never popular with the support. He has now dismissed two coaches in his 10 months in charge.

“For several reasons, we unfortunately couldn’t build on the good start we made here,” said Korkut. “I would like to thank everyone here for the open and honest cooperation.

“I hope the club can avoid relegation and I wish the whole Hertha family all the best for the future.”

Despite receiving significant cash from Windhorst, the coronavirus pandemic limited Hertha’s spending in the January transfer window.

Infections and other injuries further then further hampered the squad.