Dutt out as Bremen appoint Skripnik

Posted Sunday, October 26, 2014 by Foxsports.com

The result left the northern Germany side rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga table with only four points, and no wins, from their first nine games of the season.

Former reserve-team coach Viktor Skripnik has been appointed as Dutt's successor.

"We would like to thank Robin Dutt and his team for the work they have done," said Bremen sporting director Thomas Eichin.

"He led Bremen through a difficult phase in recent months with his great passion.

"After recent results, we were however convinced that the team needs fresh impetus to get out of the current situation."

Dutt led training as normal on Saturday, while club bosses met to discuss his future and ultimately take the decision to relieve the former German football association's director of sport of his duties after just over 15 months in the role.

Former Bremen midfielder Torsten Frings and goalkeeper Christian Vander will form part of new manager Skripnik's backroom staff.

"We've been pushing our youth development over recent years and he (Skripnik) was an important link between our centre of excellence and the first team," said Eichin.

"Now he gets the opportunity to continue this work in the Bundesliga.

"We are convinced that he will give everything he has got to give the team the self-confidence and the means they need to win games and develop again."

Skripnik, 44, played 138 games for Bremen and was part of the team which won a Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2004.

Newly-appointed Skripnik said on Bremen's website: "We've been very close to the first team in recent months and we already know every single player.

"I'm sure that we will master this challenge. We have initiated the Werder way and we are passionate about it succeeding."