German club Hannover 96 have appointed Mirko Slomka as their new manager.

Slomka replaces Andreas Bergmann who was sacked on Tuesday morning as the Reds fell into the drop zone on the Bundesliga table.

Hannover director of sport Jorg Schmadtke was excited about the signing of Slomka.

"We are convinced that Mirko Slomka will avoid relegation with our team. Furthermore, he should develop the Hannover team of the future," he said.

"After three consecutive defeats and a negative run which has now stretched to seven matches without a win, the management of Hannover no longer had the feeling that Andreas Bergmann could give the team the necessary impulse to remain in the Bundesliga."

Slomka has plenty of managerial experience, leading FC Schalke as well as being coach of Hannover's U19 team in 1998/99 and assistant from 2001 until 2004.