Schalke say no comment on Rutten reportfeat

Schalke say no comment on Rutten reportfeatGelsenkirchen, Germany - Bundesliga club Schalke 04 refused to comment Tuesday on a media report that coach Fred Rutten was set for dismissal.

"We won't be commenting on this but will be working," general secretary Peter Peters told German Press Agency dpa.

Schalke club bosses were meeting Rutten on Tuesday for "routine" talks which took place after every league match, Peters said.

Germany's mass circulation Bild newspaper reported Tuesday that Rutten, 42, would be dismissed this week.

The report said the team would be led until the end of the season by former players Youri Mulder and Mike Bueskens. The pair had been caretaker coaches last season after the dismissal of Mirko Slomka.

Rutten joined Schalke at the beginning of the season with a contract until the end of June 2010.

However the season has been disappointing for Schalke who were beaten 2-1 at home on Sunday by SV Hamburg and are lying eighth in the table, 12 points behind leaders Hertha Berlin.

The club is looking for a replacement for general manager Andreas Mueller, who was dismissed two weeks. Former Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn was interviewed last week about the job but has yet to commit himself. (dpa)