Ventforet Kofu have confirmed that they had parted ways with manager Yasuhiro Higuchi by mutual consent on Wednesday.

General Manager Satoru Sakuma will take over as the new head coach of relegation-threatened Ventforet, returning to the role he vacated at the end of 2011.

“I apologise to our supporters, sponsors, and those involved with the club for the way we have started our campaign,” Sakuma said in a statement.

“We are going to invest all of our energy toward staying in the first division.”

The MEIJI YASUDA J1 League strugglers have earned just six points from 11 matches this term, and lie rock bottom in the table.