Austria Wien dismiss Helm: Max Uhlig takes over ahead of the cup

Austria Wien announced on the evening of 24 October that head coach Stephan Helm and assistant Christian Wegleitner had been relieved of their duties with immediate effect. Max Uhlig will lead the first team on an interim basis until the end of the year.

Hartberg is the first test

The 33-year-old Young Violets coach will take charge of the first team for the home cup match against Hartberg on Tuesday 27 October. Kick-off is at 18:00 Vienna time.

Sporting board member Tomas Zorn thanked Helm and Wegleitner for their work. The announcement did not explain the reasons for the decision in detail. Zorn and Uhlig are scheduled to answer questions at a press conference on Monday 26 October at 13:00, broadcast on Viola TV.

My view: The change must show on the pitch

I am looking beyond the departing coach to his replacement. Choosing someone from within the club could shorten the transition. But it is too early to call that a solution. Against Hartberg, I will watch how calmly the team handles pressure and how collectively it reacts after losing the ball. A new name can change expectations; a change in the football still has to be demonstrated.