Omiya Ardija on Sunday announced the dismissal of manager Hiroki Shibuya following the team’s poor start to the 2017 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League season.

Shibuya, who joined Ardija midway through the 2014 season, led the team to the 2015 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League title before astonishingly finishing the 2016 J1 campaign in fifth place.

But the 50-year-old has been unable to recreate that magic this year, going with just two wins accompanying one draw and 10 losses thus far.

“Our slogan this year was ‘even stronger’, but I’m sorry that I did not have the ability to meet everyone’s expectation,” Shibuya said. 

“While I am leaving, I still believe that Omiya Ardija have a bright future and I hope fans will support the new coaching team.”

Ardija also announced the appointment of former youth team manager Akira Ito as the club’s new manager and Keiji Kaimoto as the new head coach.