Schachner leaves Kärnten for Wien

FC Kärnten coach Walter Schachner has left the club two matches before the end of the season ahead of his summer move to FK Austria Wien.

Early departure
Heinz Hochhauser, who was initially expected to take over during the close season, will take over from Schachner with immediate effect. "I leave with a sad heart but we part on friendly terms," Schachner said. "What the squad has achieved was simply great." Schachner has taken Kärnten to the verge of a place in next season's UEFA Cup; they are battling with his new club Wien for a fourth-placed finish in the Austrian Bundesliga table.

League consolidation
Meanwhile, Hochhauser has set himself the target of making the club a permanent fixture in the Austrian top flight as he takes over the reins at Kärnten. "First of all we will have to consolidate the level the team has reached during the last two seasons," said Hochhauser. "But this team and the whole club has a great potential to develop."

Superb achievement
Schachner's achievements at Kärnten have set a standard that his replacement will do well to live up to. After taking over the club in June 2000, the former Austrian international won promotion to the Austrian top flight after a ten-year absence and also led Kärnten to victory in the ÖFB Cup and Austrian Super Cup in 2001.