McClaren is the first Englishman to coach a Bundesliga side

Steve McClaren has been given a vote of confidence by German side Wolfsburg, despite the former England manager admitting they had "hit rock bottom".

McClaren's team were booed off after losing to Energie Cottbus in Germany's DFB-Pokal cup competition on Wednesday.

Wolfsburg have struggled since the Englishman took over in May and currently lie 13th in the Bundesliga.

But managing director Dieter Hoeness said they would be making changes to the team rather than the manager.

In a statement, Hoeness said: "We will clean up. With this team and its make-up there can be no long-lasting success."

The former Bayern Munich and Germany striker said McClaren would be given a new fitness coach, while players Karim Ziani and Caiuby would be dropped to the reserves.

McClaren had earlier admitted there were "problems in the dressing room".

Hoeness added: "We said eight weeks ago that the attitude should change. It was about passion, willingness to run and one-on-ones. We did not see a response so that is why we must act.

"We expect from the coaches (when the team meets on 2 January) to punish severely any wrong behaviour on or off the pitch."

Hoeness said fans should expect major changes to the squad after the winter break, admitting: "The road down which we will go may be painful for some of them."

We have got to take a decision quickly. Now is the time, during the winter break, to clean things up Steve McClaren, Wolfsburg coach

McClaren moved to Wolfsburg after leading Dutch side FC Twente to their first ever Eredivisie title last season.

That success appeared to have finally exorcised the ghosts from his troubled England reign, where he was dubbed "the wally with the brolly" after seeing the national side's Euro 2008 qualifying hopes ended by Croatia in the rain at Wembley.

But after the shock defeat by Cottbus, who were relegated from the Bundesliga last season, McClaren admitted: "This club needs changes. They may be drastic, but I cannot control them.

"We have got to take a decision quickly. Now is the time, during the winter break, to clean things up.

"It was simply not good enough and the first half of the season was not good enough.

"I am disappointed, frustrated. We have problems in the dressing room, problems on the field. We have hit rock bottom."

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