Nurnberg appoint Dieter Hecking as manager

Nurnberg have appointed Dieter Hecking as their new manager after Michael Oenning was relieved of his duties on Monday.

The 45-year-old faces a tough task of preserving the club's Bundesliga status at the end of the season as they sit second from bottom with just three wins to their name from 17 league games this term.

Hecking, who resigned as coach of Hannover in August, will be aiming to help the recently promoted outfit turn their season around after losing their previous four fixtures, conceding 12 times without scoring in the process.

His first game in charge will be on January 16 when his new side make the daunting trip to Schalke with the league starting up again after the winter break.

Wolfsburg manager Armin Veh has been told his job in the hot-seat is safe despite the club going out of the Champions League at the first hurdle.

They are also 11 points off the pace at the top of the Bundesliga as they languish in eighth place and Dieter Hoeness has just been appointed as the club's new managing director.

Many pundits believe that his appointment could see the end of Veh, but Hoeness has rejected those claims.

Speaking to the club's official website, Hoeness said: "It is definitively not depriving Armin Veh of power. It's about the responsibility for the club.

"The subject will soon be forgotten when the results come. I am looking forward to the co-operation with the board and with Armin Veh."