Last season's DFB-Pokal winners find themselves mired in the Bundesliga's relegation zone after 19 games having managed just four wins and 16 points to date.

The club are expected to name former Arminia Bielefeld coach Thomas von Heesen as Meyer's successor at a press conference on Tuesday.

Saturday's 1-1 draw at home to Hansa Rostock left Meyer's troops two points from safety, prompting the club to bring an end the 27-month reign of the coach and his assistant, Jurgen Raab.

Nurnberg's director of sport Martin Bader revealed that the decision to sack Meyer was purely down to poor results.

He said: "We have reacted to the sporting situation of the last weeks and months.

"We informed Hans Meyer of our decision on Monday evening."

Bader added in kicker magazine: "It is a real mess, but we wanted to give the new coach as many games as possible to turn the corner.

"There is never really a good time for such decisions."

A statement posted on club website www.fcn.de indicated that the appointment of 46-year-old Von Heesen was imminent.

"Talks are under way with Thomas von Heesen about possibly becoming his successor and more declarations will be made at a press conference on Tuesday," the statement read.

Should Von Heesen get the nod, he will have just 48 to prepare his new charges for Nurnberg's UEFA Cup Round of 32 first-leg encounter with Portuguese giants Benfica on Thursday.

Von Heesen's first Bundesliga game at the helm would be a tricky away fixture at second-placed Werder Bremen on Saturday.

Meyer took charge at Nurnberg in November 2005, saving the club from relegation in his first six months in charge.

Last season Meyer led the team to a sixth-placed Bundesliga finish and the DFB-Pokal crown to secure a place in Europe.

The 65-year-old has also had spells in charge of Borussia Monchengladbach, Hertha Berlin and Dutch outfit FC Twente.