Munich, Germany - After suffering their fourth straight defeat in Friday’s 5-2 loss to the Hamburg Freezers, the slumping Iserlohn Roosters decided to axe head coach Dave Whistle Saturday morning.

Teal Fowler, a long time assistant coach with the Roosters, will serve as interim head coach.

Whistle’s DEL rookie season lasted only nine games, in which he led the Roosters to three wins, one regulation tie and five losses.

"We have been monitoring games and practices closely for a long time", the Roosters stated in a press release. "Despite continuous communication and extraordinary assistance on our part, Dave Whistle was not able to realize our ideas. The team's primary goal is avoiding relegation. At the moment, we have the impression that this goal is in danger. That's why we felt forced to make this move."

The Ontario native was brought in this off-season after fan favorite Greg Poss decided to take head coaching reins at the Nürnberg Ice Tigers after eight years in Iserlohn.

At only 37 years of age, Whistle has already won three championship rings as a head coach in the British Superleague, two with the Belfast Giants and one with the Bracknell Bees.