Hertha Berlin president Werner Gegenbauer does not believe the position of coach Friedhelm Funkel is under threat.

The Hertha board met last night to discuss the club's predicament after their 2-1 defeat to Nurnberg at the weekend left them nine points adrift of safety at the bottom of the Bundesliga.

But Gegenbauer revealed sacking Funkel does not appear to be on the agenda at the moment.

"I have received no signal from (general manager) Michael Preetz that his faith (in Funkel) has wavered," he told the local RBB television.

"I am responsible for the contracts of Preetz and financial director Ingo Schiller and there are absolutely no changes."

Preetz told awaiting reporters yesterday that he "would not be leading a discussion about the coach".