Karlsruhe coach gets backing

Reports had claimed that Becker's future with Karlsruhe was in doubt after a run of three successive defeats and four games without a goal.

But the club's general manager Rolf Dohmen has confirmed that the board have no plans to change coaches, with the team four points from safety.

Instead, Becker has been given the backing to lead Karlsruhe to survival in the top flight between now and the end of the season.

Excellent job

"We are of the opinion that the manager is doing an excellent job," Dohmen told Deutsches SportFernsehen.

"He is still able to get close to the feelings of the squad.

"The team creates a lot of scoring opportunities due to the way the team performs. That is why we still believe he is the right man for us and we are fully backing Ede Becker.

"We are bottom of the Bundesliga and you have to be realistic. Anyway, we are convinced we will achieve safety with Ede Becker and the current squad.

"Of course, we would continue with Ede Becker in the event of relegation, but we are certain we do not need to follow that path."