Bayern helped Dortmund avoid bankruptcy

The payment of two million euros ($A2.45 million) by Bayern was made and repaid in 2003 after heavy investment by the Dortmund board had put the club into dire financial straits.

The loan was accepted by then president Gerd Niebaum and manager Michael Meier.

In March 2005, the club was again in financial trouble and on the verge of bankruptcy as it only just managed to avoid insolvency but corrected its cash situation enough to become German champion last season.

"When they couldn't pay up any more, sometimes even for salaries, we gave them an unsecured loan for a few months," revealed Bayern president Hoeness.

"I'm a big fan of tradition in sport and I don't think that was a bad thing to do."

Dortmund's chief executive officer Hans-Joachim Watzke has confirmed the Bayern loan to local newspaper the Ruhr Nachrichten.

Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes has said he does not believe Hoeness' comments are planned to unsettle its Dortmund rival which is top of the league on 43 points with Bayern in second place on 41 points and level with Schalke 04.

"I do not see this as calculated," said Heynckes on Monday at a press conference.

"It was a good few years ago and I think it is a positive thing there is some solidarity in the league."

Dortmund has since turned its finances around and managed to sign Borussia Moenchengladbach's rising star Marco Reus for 17.5 million euros ($A21.46 million) to play for it next season, fighting off competition from Bayern.