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Arminia Bielefeld axe coach Stefan Krämer

Stefan Krämer

Stefan Krämer

German 2nd Division Bundesliga side DSC Arminia Bielefeld have announced the sacking of their head coach Stefan Krämer and assistant coach Michael Bauer on Sunday night.

The decision was taken unanimously by the chairmanship, the board of directors, the executive board and the sporting management according to a press release issued by the club at 21.30 CET (02.00 IST / 20.30 GMT).

Arminia Bielefeld took the decision after the team failed to retain their excellent form at the beginning of the season, when they led the 2nd Division Bundesliga table. The club is now in the middle of a relegation battle and they could face relegation to the 3rd Division after just one season in the 2nd Division Bundesliga. Arminia had to settle for a 0-2 home defeat to FC Ingolstadt on Friday, which caused the club to take some action.

Stefan Krämer gained promition to the 2nd Division Bundesliga with Arminia Bielefeld after the club went through tough times financially and administratively in the recent years. Arminia Bielefeld have stated that the decision to release Krämer was not an easy one especially based on his great services for the club since his appointment in November 2011.

Krämer joined Arminia Bielefeld in July 2011 as an assistant coach, before he was promoted to the position of the head coach just four months later. He helped the club to stay in the 3rd Division, before he led the club to the 2nd Division in the next season.

“Stefan Krämer and Michael Bauer have helped DSC Arminia extremely in a very tough time. I would like to thank them on behalf of the club for their successful work in the last two and a half year. The decision has been taken together by all the DSC committees in their responsibility towards Arminia Bielefeld,” Hans-Jürgen-Laufer (President, DSC Arminia Bielefeld) told.

Arminia’s CEO Marcus Uhlig said, “The sporting situation has come to a crisis after the 0-2 home defeat against FC Ingolstadt. We would like to set new important impulses in our fight to stay in the league. Stefan Krämer belongs the credit of moving things forward in Bielefeld not least because of the promotion to the 2nd Division Bundesliga. My gratitude belongs to him and his assistant coach Michael Bauer.”

Samir Arabi (Sports Director, DSC Arminia Bielefeld) added, “I would like to thank Stefan Kräner and Michael Bauer for their work. They deserve a good deal of Arminia’s promotion to the 2nd Division Bundesliga. We have decided to reposition the coaching staff based on our current sporting situation.”

Arminia Bielefeld have stated that the club would present a new coaching staff shortly.