Relegation-threatened Hamburg are set to turn to experienced coach Mirko Slomka to help them avoid relegation from the Bundesliga in the wake of Bert van Marwijk's dismissal, according to reports.
Ex-Netherlands coach Van Marwijk, 61, was sacked on Saturday night after Hamburg were drubbed 4-2 at bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig, their seventh consecutive league defeat seeing them set an unwelcome club record.
After only 143 days in charge, Van Marwijk was relieved of his post after an emergency meeting of the club's board with the team second from bottom.
Hamburg have never previously been relegated from the Bundesliga and the Dutchman's successor faces an unenviable task to inspire a squad low on morale.
"We will do everything to find a solution in a very timely manner and then we will make a presentation in a timely manner," said club president Carl Jarchow, while refusing to comment on the Slomka reports.
German media make the 46-year-old Slomka, who notably helped Schalke to second place in 2007, the favourite to take over.
He took over at Hanover 96 in 2010, steering the Lower Saxony side to the Europa League in 2011-12 and 2012-13, until he was fired in December.
According to information from SID, an AFP subsidiary, only a few contract details have still to be confirmed between Hamburg and Slomka.
Dutch ex-Hamburg, Fulham, Ajax and Tottenham Hotspur coach Martin Jol has also been linked to the vacant position.
