Crisis club Bayer sack Toppmoller

BOBBY ROBSON jetted out to Germany on the eve of his 70th birthday as crisis club Bayer Leverkusen sacked manager Klaus Toppmoller.

The Bundesliga side dispensed with Toppmoller’s services just 48 hours before Robson and his players flew out from Newcastle International Airport for tomorrow nights’ Champions League Group A clash at the BayArena.

Youth team coach Thomas Horster will take temporary charge of the side, which lost 2-1 at home to Hansa Rostock on Saturday to leave them facing a battle against relegation.

Robson sympathised with the man who led the club into second place in the Bundesliga and to last season’s Champions League final after joining the club in July 2001, but insisted his sacking would not affect United’s preparations.

“I’m never happy when a colleague loses his job, whether it’s in England or out of England really,” he said.

“I know him slightly. I met him when the draw was made. He had a fantastic year last year and did very well. He seemed to be a very young, bright man, so I’m sorry that it’s happened to him.

“But as it’s always been, it’s about results, I guess, and the pressure to get results is always on you, and if you don’t get them, something like that can happen.

“It’s a side of the game. It’s not the greatest side of the game, but it happens, I guess.”