(AFP) – Nov 13, 2007

BERLIN (AFP) — Bayern Munich boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has come out in support of coach Ottmar Hitzfeld after publicly criticising him following the league leaders recent poor results.

A lacklustre Bayern were humbled 3-1 in Saturday's Bundesliga clash at VfB Stuttgart which left Rummenigge fuming having already criticised Hitzfeld's tactics when his side slipped to a 2-2 UEFA Cup draw with Bolton Wanderers the previous Thursday.

Hitzfeld took off stars Franck Ribery and Lukas Podolski after 60 minutes against Bolton as Rummenigge later seethed: "I am very angry. The audience have a right to see the best team."

But the chairman of Bayern's board brushed aside the strained atmosphere with gushing praise at the club's Annual General Meeting on Monday night for Hitzfeld who has won Champions League titles with Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.

"I am happy and Bayern should feel lucky that we have such a good friend and trainer in Ottmar Hitzfeld," said Rummenigge.

"I do not have a problem with Hitzfeld.

"He is the man reponsible for the team's selection, determination and style of play.

"It is not about blaming people for what has happened, it is all about the success of Bayern."

Last Saturday's defeat in Stuttgart has trimmed Bayern's lead at the top of the Bundesliga to just two points and came less than 48 hours after the German giants conceded a late equaliser against Bolton.

Hitzfeld's contract expires at the end of the season and he has mentioned the possibility of linking up with the Swiss national team where the head coach position will be vacant after next summer's Euro 2008 tournament.

But the 58-year-old has said he would prefer to stay on as coach of Bayern and has received support from German football legend Franz Beckenbauer.

"Ottmar is a formidable trainer and I think he fits in very well at Bayern," Bekenbauer told German sports channel DSF.

Bayern top the German league by a point from Werder Bremen and Hamburg, but Rummenigge said he has no doubts the Munich side will be top of the table when the Bundesliga starts the winter break on December 15.

Meanwhile, despite last season's poor results by their own lofty standards, Bayern have announced record profit and turnover.

In the reporting year from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007, Germany's most successful football club made an operating profit of 53.5 million euros (78 million dollars) compared to 27m euros (39m dollars) the year before.

The club's turn-over was 225.8m euros (329.4m dollars) compared to 204.7m euros (298m dollars) the year before, generating profit after tax of 18.9m euros (27.5m dollars) compared to 4.8m euros (7m dollars) the year before.

The figures are remarkable as, in football terms, it was their worst season for 10 years as they failed to win a Champions League place and did not lift a single trophy.

Income from merchandising has showed a 10 percent increase on the previous year, a figure largely driven by replica shirt sales bearing the names of new star signings Franck Ribery, Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose.

The superstar trio were brought in as part of the 69 million euros (100.6 million dollars) summer spending spree and Rummenigge hinted more big names are set to arrive.

"We'll never pursue a risky business strategy, but we will continue to sign high-quality players," he said.

"We'll invest in quality, not quantity.

"I am enjoying watching Ribery more than many players we've brought in for less money in the past."

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