Bundesliga basement boys Greuther Furth have sacked coach Mike Buskens.

The promoted club have won only twice in 22 top-flight games this term and lie bottom of the table - 14 points behind fourth-bottom Wolfsburg but only four adrift of 18th-placed Hoffenheim in the relegation play-off place.

Buskens, 44, who led Furth to the second division title last season, was notified of the club's decision this afternoon.

Club president Helmut Hack said on greuther-furth.de: "We know what we have to thank Mike Buskens for, so it was a decision that was very difficult for us.

"We still have a chance to stay up. Therefore, we want to try to give the team a new impetus."

Under-23 coach Ludwig Preis and sporting director Rouven Schroder will oversee first-team affairs until a permanent replacement is appointed.

Schroder said: "This is only an interim solution, until we find a new head coach."

Furth, who lost 1-0 at fellow strugglers Fortuna Dusseldorf last weekend, host third-placed Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.