Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes has said he will not discuss his future plans until March at the earliest with his contract set to expire next June.
Heynckes' current deal ends just after his 68th birthday in May and he has said he will not be discussing his future with chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge or director of sport Matthias Sammer until next year at the earliest.
"They won't be hearing anything from me about my future plans until mid to late March," Heynckes said with Bayern 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga ahead of Friday's home match against Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Bayern are enjoying enormous success this season under former Real Madrid boss Heynckes, qualifying top of their Champions League group, and set a new Bundesliga record after winning their opening eight Bundesliga matches.
Former Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has been linked with the head coach job at Bayern by the German media.
While there have been hints of friction between Heynckes and Sammer this season, the head coach clearly has the respect of the Munich dressing room.
"When he criticises, he still comes over in a positive tone, never negative," said Bayern wing Franck Ribery.
"We have a lot of respect for him and he has a lot of respect for us."
And striker Mario Gomez summed things up when he told German magazine Kicker who he wants to see in charge next season.
"Heynckes, who else?"
Bayern travel to Augsburg on Tuesday for a place in the German Cup quarter-finals in their final game of 2012 and will discover their Champions League last 16 opponents when the draw is made on Thursday.
Source: AFP
