Hamburg loses sporting director

HAMBURG (AP) - Hamburg sporting director Dietmar Beiersdorfer has left the club following a dispute among its senior management.

The Bundesliga club said a decision to terminate Beiersdorfer's contract with immediate effect was made by mutual agreement on Tuesday night.

Beiersdorfer had been at odds with club president Bernd Hoffmann over transfer policy and the two men's responsibilities.

"We have lost a lot of time in planning for the season," supervisory board chairman Horst Becker said. "But we are capable of acting - we have three management board members."

There was no immediate word on a replacement for Beiersdorfer.

Hamburg has yet to announce any signings for the new season, although it has brought in coach Bruno Labbadia from Bayer Leverkusen to replace Martin Jol, who has moved to Ajax in his native Netherlands.