BERLIN: VfL Wolfsburg are sticking with coach Steve McClaren despite their shock DFB-Pokal loss to second division Energie Cottbus yesterday but said they would make changes to their squad.

Club officials met McClaren this morning to discuss the team's poor run and it was decided to keep faith with the former England manager.

"We will clean up," said team manager Dieter Hoeness in a statement.

"With this team and its makeup there can be no long-lasting success."

McClaren became the first English coach at the helm of a Bundesliga club after joining the 2009 German champions this year.

But he has failed to impress despite the club keeping striker Edin Dzeko and signing Brazilian Diego from Juventus.

They have not won any of their last seven league matches and with just 19 points from 17 games languish in 13th place, some 10 points behind the European qualification spots at the start of the four-week winter break.

Hoeness said McClaren would be given a new fitness coach, adding that players Karim Ziani and Caiuby would be dropped to the reserves.

"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 meet on Jan 2) to punish severely any wrong behaviour on or off the pitch," Hoeness said.

He said fans should expect major squad changes next year.

"Now in the winter it is difficult but we will do our best. The road down which we will go may be painful for some of them," said Hoeness.

McClaren joined Wolfsburg after steering Dutch side Twente Enschede to their maiden Dutch title.

He took over in 2008, seven months after his spell in charge of England ended in humiliation with England failing to qualify for Euro 2008.

DUBAI: One lucky amateur golfer will get the chance to play alongside Tiger Woods (pic) at the pro am tournament that takes place ahead of the Dubai Desert Classic in February.

Woods, who is making a return to European Tour event after a two year hiatus, often plays pro am tournaments but amateurs generally pay for their place and are not guaranteed a chance to play with the second-ranked Woods.

In the case of Dubai, there is no charge to register and the player will be part of his foursome.

Anyone in the world with a "valid handicap" can register at www.golfindubai.org and the winner will be picked two weeks ahead of the Feb 9 tournament at the Emirates Golf Club.

Men must have a handicap of 18 or below and women 26.

The aim of the competition is to boost support for golf in Dubai, where tournaments routinely struggle to attract a following, especially among Emiratis.

Beyond stars like Woods, the galleries for many European golfers are often in single digits and the grandstand behind the 18th hole has plenty of empty seats until the final two days.

"The very intention behind having this online draw is to encourage amateurs to be part of the fun," said Mohamed Juma Buamaim, vice chairman and CEO of the company golf in Dubai, which is organising the tournament.

"Playing alongside Tiger is a dream of every player," he said.

"I am sure the lucky one, male or female, will learn quite a few things about the game just (by) watching him play, up close and personal."

Woods won the Desert Classic in 2006 and 2008 and has never finished lower than fifth since his first appearance in 2001.

He missed the 2009 tournament due to a knee injury and was absent last year amid the ongoing turmoil surrounding his personal life.