Ernst Middendorp ditches Swallows for German side 

Ernst Middendorp has terminated his contract with DStv Premiership side Swallows to join German club, SV Meppen.

Meppen made announcement of Middendorp as their new head coach on Tuesday. 

This comes after Meppen cut ties with their coach Stefan Krämer last Saturday. In the past 21 games, the departed coach only managed to win one game.

The club, Meppen, competes in the German third division. 

Middendorp has been given a contract until the end of the season.

The 64-year-old mentor is expected to save Meppen from relegation, as they are currently languishing at the basement of the log in the German third division. 

SV MEPPEN’S OFFICIAL STATEMENT 

“The new head coach is Ernst Middendorp. He most recently coached Swallows FC in the South African Premier League,” read the club’s statement. 

“He canceled his contract there, which ran until the summer of 2026. Ernst Middendorp signed a contract with SVM until the end of the season.”

During his brief stint at Swallows, Middendorp accumulated 11 points in 10 league games with three wins, five defeats and two draws.

In his last game in charge of the Soweto side, Middendorp suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Orlando Pirates at Dobsonville Stadium on Friday, 03 March 2023.

He abruptly leaves Swallows in the relegation zone, 14th place on the log standings, five points adrift of bottom-placed Marumo Gallants.

Meanwhile, the Meppen sports director Heiner Beckmann reckons that the ex-Kaizer Chiefs mentor will save the side from the chop. 

HEINER BECKMANN BELIEVES

“We are convinced that Ernst Middendorp can help us directly in the current situation with his enormous experience,” said Beckmann.

“I was in regular contact with him and I know how intensively Ernst Middendorp is.”

In Germany, the former Maritzburg United coach worked at Rot-Weiss Essen, KFC Uerdingen, FC Augsburg and VfL Bochum.

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