Hannover president Martin Kind has admitted that he took a gamble by appointing Tayfun Korkut as the club's new manager.

Korkut was named as the replacement of Mirko Slomka despite never having managed a team before, with his highest role coming as assistant coach of the Turkish national side.

"To claim otherwise would be dishonest. We started off by considering what type of a coach we should consider - an experienced one, coaches with a track record of success in relegation battles or young coaches with potential," Kind told the official Bundesliga website.

"We drew up a list for each and then had to see who was available. I personally pushed for the courageous decision, which was the appointment of a young coach, possibly one without any Bundesliga experience.

"We then chose Tayfun Korkut. Just look at Markus Gisdol in Hoffenheim, Markus Weinzierl in Augsburg or Thomas Schneider in Stuttgart. They show that such decisions can be rewarded."

Hannover are currently 13th in the Bundesliga table, four points clear of the relegation playoff spot.