Schalke part ways with sporting management
Christian Gross, Rainer Widmayer, Sascha Riether, Werner Leuthard and Jochen Schneider have been relieved of their duties at Schalke 04 with immediate effect.
Following Saturday's 5-1 loss to VfB Stuttgart, Schalke 04 have parted company with head coach Christian Gross, assistant coach Rainer Widmayer, first team coordinator Sascha Riether and fitness coach Werner Leuthard with immediate effect.
Additionally, it has been decided that Jochen Schneider will leave his position as head of sport and communiation now instead of in the summer as initially announced.
Peter Knäbel will take on overall sporting responsibility with assistance from Norbert Elgert and Mike Büskens while Gerard Asamoah will be responsible for the first team coordination for the rest of the season.
"Following the two disappointing displays against Dortmund and Stuttgart, these decisions were unavoidable. There’s no need to beat around the bush here: the sporting situation is unambiguous, so we have to think beyond the end of the season with regard to these still outstanding personnel changes," said Jens Buchta, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
"At the same time, responsibility now falls on the team to try and be as successful as possible in the remaining third of the season. The players owe that to the club and to the fans.
"On behalf of the Supervisory Board, I would like to thank Jochen Schneider for his tireless efforts with Schalke 04. We wish him, Christian Gross, Sascha Riether, Werner Leuthard and Rainer Widmayer all the best in their personal and professional lives."