Former Kaizer Chiefs, Maritzburg United and Moroka Swallows coach Ernst Middendorp has dumped his German club SV Meppen.
The club announced Middendorp’s departure on Thursday morning. Middendorp joined the German fourth-tier side last season after leaving Swallows in the murky relegation waters.
The German left the Soweto side in 14th place with eight games to go. He had been in charge for 10 games, winning three, drawing twice and losing five.
Musa Nyatama, who was left in charge, guided them to a top-eight finish.
In his native Germany, he found Meppen in the basement of a 20-team league. He guided them to a 17th-place finish, which was not enough to save them from relegation.
They slipped to the German fourth tier, the Regionalliga Nord. The club’s management kept their faith in him despite getting the chop.
SV MEPPEN CONFIRM ERNST MIDDENDORP DEPARTURE
But he has decided to leave following a 2-1 loss to SSV Jeddeloh.
SV Meppen confirmed the latest setback via a statement.
“Ernst Middendorp announced last night after SV Meppen’s league game at SSV Jeddeloh that he was stepping down as a coach and sporting director. The board of the SVM was also shocked by this.
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“Middendorp informed the board after the 2-1 defeat in Jeddeloh. He informed the team of his decision in the dressing room. No one expected that,” said sporting director Heiner Beckmann.
The club has decided that assistant coach Steffen Puttkammer will initially lead the training of the regional league team.
The 34-year-old, who played for the club in the 3rd division from 2017 to 2023, took over the post at the start of the season.
“SV Meppen is trying to find a successor for Middendorp as quickly as possible, who only took over the team at the beginning of March. At the weekend, the Emsländer are free of games in the regional league. Next Wednesday, they meet SSV Jeddeloh again in the Lower Saxony Cup in the Hänsch Arena.”