Ingolstadt's coach Hasenhuettl rejects extension

Ingolstadt coach Ralph Hasenhuettl has rejected a contract extension, the German football club has said.

The 48-year-old coach, whose contract runs through to June 2017, turned down a new deal and told the club officials on Tuesday he wants to leave the club at the end of the season, reports Xinhua.

"We took note of Ralph's request. Nevertheless, we fully planned with him to date. Now we are forced to overthink in many areas and to align ourselves again," Ingolstadt's chairman of communication Harald Gaertner said on Tuesday.

However, Hasenhuettel can only join another club ahead of schedule with Ingolstadt's assent. If the Bundesliga newcomers won't find a successor they will disallow the transfer of Hasenhuettl, who will have to fulfil his current contract in that case.

"Ralph Hasenhuettl is an important part of our team. We had until last moment the hope that he would accept our contract extension. Now we will check the market and see if we find a coach, who suits us in all areas," sporting director Thomas Linke said.

Hasenhuettl has led Ingolstadt into Germany's top flight for the very first time in the club's history. They sit currently on the ninth place in the Bundesliga standings.

--IANS

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