Mainz 05 are set to name their former player Sandro Schwarz as head coach on Wednesday, according to reports in the German media.

Several media outlets claim Schwarz, 38, will be promoted from coaching Mainz's Under-23 team, which has just been relegated from Germany's third division.

Schwarz, who made 100 appearances as a midfielder for Mainz between 1998 and 2002, is set to be named in a press conference scheduled for Wednesday as the replacement for Martin Schmidt.

The Swiss was sacked last week, despite having a year left on his contract, after Mainz finished 15th in the Bundesliga -- only avoiding relegation on goal difference.

Mainz have a history of putting inexperienced coaches in charge of their first team.

Thomas Tuchel, currently Borussia Dortmund's head coach, made his breakthrough at Mainz, and twice steered them to the Europa League in his five seasons in charge from 2009-14.

Before Tuchel, Jurgen Klopp, a former Mainz player, spent seven years as coach before joining Dortmund in 2008.