Leverkusen stick with Hörster

Bayer 04 Leverkusen coach Thomas Hörster will stay on at the club after the struggling Bundesliga club rejected his offer to stand down.

Calmund confirmation
The 46-year-old Hörster had said he was ready to leave if Leverkusen could find a replacement. But commercial manager Reiner Calmund told a news conference that the club had decided Hörster would remain in charge until at least the end of the season.

Players' support
Hörster directed a training session earlier today and the players, led by captain Carsten Ramelow, informed Calmund that they did not want the coach to leave. "The players gave clear and unanimous support to Hörster," Calmund said. "The matter is now closed. Hörster remains our coach, full stop."

Ramelow support
"We need calm here," said Ramelow. "We are very satisfied with the job the coach is doing. We, the players, have to lift the club with our performances on the pitch."

Relegation battle
Leverkusen, the 2002 UEFA Champions League finalists, slipped back into the Bundesliga relegation zone after losing 3-0 at VfB Stuttgart on Saturday. They are now 16th in the 18-team league with just 30 points from 28 games, one point behind VfL Bochum 1848, who are just outside the bottom three.

Promoted from youth set-up
Hörster was promoted to coach in February from his role as youth-team supremo, having previously played more than 330 games for the club. He replaced Klaus Toppmöller, who guided Leverkusen to the Champions League and German Cup finals and the Bundesliga runners-up spot in 2001/02.