Struggling MEIJI YASUDA J1 League team Shimizu S-Pulse on Saturday announced that manager Katsumi Oenoki had resigned and is to be replaced by Kazuaki Tasaka.

Oenoki opted to walk away with the J.League co-founders under threat of their first-ever relegation, the Shizuoka side currently sitting in overall 17th place having picked up just four wins, six draws and 12 losses after 22 rounds under their ex-boss.

Head coach Tasaka has now been promoted in the 50-year-old’s stead, a month after joining the club following his stint in charge of MEIJI YASUDA J2 League side Oita Trinita.

“With a third of the season remaining I felt it was the best decision to entrust the team to Mr. Tasaka and the rest of the coaching staff,” Oenoki commented.

S-Pulse will resume their campaign on August 12 when they host Shonan Bellmare at IAI Stadium.