( CNN ) -- Bayern Munich sacked coach Louis van Gaal Sunday after poor results threatened their participation in next season 's Champions League . The Dutchman was due to step down at the end of the season , but the board of the Bavarian giants held an emergency meeting after their disappointing 1-1 draw against Nuremberg Saturday and took the decision to replace him immediately . A statement on the club 's official website said the decision had been taken in the `` interests of the club as a whole . '' It added that the draw meant Bayern had slipped back into fourth place in the Bundesliga `` increasing the danger of the club failing to hit its minimum target for the season , the chance of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League . '' Van Gaal , 59 , was informed of his sacking on return from Nuremberg . His assistants Frans Hoek , Jos van Dijk and Max Reckers have also been relieved of their duties . Andries Jonker has been placed in temporary charge until the end of the season . Van Gaal took Bayern to the domestic double last season and they lost in the final of the Champions League to Inter Milan . But their form in the German league this season has been poor , trailing runaway leaders Borussia Dortmund , while defeat to Inter in their Champions League last 16 clash last month ended their hopes of silverware . Currently in fourth , Bayern need to finish in the top two to gain automatic entry into the Champions League next season , with third place going into the final qualifying round . Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told AFP that they had been considering the decision to sack van Gaal for weeks . `` It is true we have taken a short-term decision but there has been dissatisfaction -- I have to make this clear -- for weeks , '' he said . `` At the end of the day , it is the responsibility of the club to do everything we can to get third place . `` In terms of the decision , we simply did n't have an alternative . '' Bayer Leverkusen 's coach Jupp Heynckes has already been announced as Bayern 's head coach for next season . His current side cut Borussia Dortmund 's lead at the top of the Bundesliga to just five points Sunday as they came from behind to seal a 2-1 home win over relegation battlers St Pauli . Dortmund were held to a 1-1 draw at Hamburg Saturday , but second-placed Leverkusen fell behind until Germany striker Stefan Kiessling equalized before Lars Bender scored the crucial winner .
Bayern Munich sack coach Louis van Dam with immediate effect . Poor recent results have left them outside Champions League contention . Van Gaal was due to stay on until the end of the season . NEW : Bayer 04 beat St. Pauli 2 - 1 to extend Dortmund 's lead to five points .