Dortmund part ways with sporting director Kehl

The surprise announcement, which sees Kehl leaving with immediate effect, comes amid rumours linking the former Dortmund player, who won three Bundesliga titles during a 13-year stint with the club, to the sporting director job at Hamburg. Lars Ricken, Dortmund's board member for sport -- a position above Kehl's in the hierarchy -- said the decision came after a "very open discussion". "(We) came to the shared conclusion that the summer is the right time for changes," Ricken said in the statement.