Zwanziger wants Loew to stay in charge of Germany

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BERLIN, Feb 6, 2010 (AFP) - Germany football boss Theo Zwanziger insisted on Saturday he wants Joachim Loew to remain as coach of the national side, despite contract negotiations being delayed until after the World Cup in South Africa.

The extending of Loew's contract, which is set to expire after June's World Cup, had been declared a formality by both parties late last year before last Thursday's surprise announcement that negotiations had been postponed.

But Zwanziger, the president of the German Football Federation (DFB), has made it clear he wants to keep Loew in charge after the World Cup and into the qualifiers for Euro 2012, the draw for which will be made in Warsaw on Sunday.

"I want to keep him on," Zwanziger told the Sueddeutschen Zeitung with contract negotiations delayed until after the World Cup when the final will be held on July 11.

"I will speak to Loew whether we have a successful World Cup campaign or not, he would always be my first point of contact."

Loew is set to discover on Sunday who his side will need to beat to qualify for Euro 2012, which will be held in Poland and the Ukraine, but his main concern is on the World Cup finals in South Africa.

Loew's coaching team, which includes team manager Oliver Bierhoff, are all chasing contract extensions, but Zwanziger says the fact the matter will be unresolved before Germany bid to win their fourth world title is irrelevant.

"The nation's World Cup fate does not depend on whether the coach of the national team's contract is running out going into the tournament," said Zwanziger.

The DFB president revealed the negotiations had broken down because Bierhoff wanted both more money and influence, making the team manager responsible for the hiring and firing of the coach.

"That was not feasible, I would have had to submit several proposals to change the federation's constitution," said Zwanziger.

"This extensive expansion of the constitution could not be merged with the DFB's principals.

"The national team as a corporation with the DFB as an advisory council - that idea doesn't work."

Zwanziger said he will speak to Loew and Bierhoff in Warsaw this weekend as the DFB representatives attend the Euro 2012 draw and sees the issue being resolved amicably.

"I do not see that (the negotiation break-down) as a breach of trust," he said.

"We are friends, not enemies. We are working towards a common goal."

And Loew said he was hoping for a face-to-face conversation with Zwanziger to help resolve the issue.

"We have known each other for six years and we have always worked well together," said Loew about Zwanziger.

"We can always count on his support personally and also from the DFB.

"In the coming weeks, our combined goal is to create a positive atmosphere and to put all our strength into creating the best possible preparation for the World Cup."

And Bierhoff's attempt to bring more power to the team manager position was criticised by Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer who has both coached and captained the national side to World Cup success.

"It was absolutely right to reject the demands of Bierhoff," Beckenbauer told German daily Bild.

"Also in the future, the DFB's executive committee must be allowed to decide about who the national coach is, not the team manager.

"The ability to veto the decision was not acceptable.

"My opinion is the attempt to take over has failed."