Schalke 04 have announced the departure of both head coach Karel Geraerts and sporting director Marc Wilmots following Friday’s 5-3 home defeat at the hands of Darmstadt 98.

That result left Schalke 14th in 2. Bundesliga, with just one win from their first six matches of the new season.

And the club confirmed that after “intense discussions” with Geraerts and Wilmots on Saturday morning, the Belgian duo have been relieved of their duties.

“The board’s decision not to continue with Karel Geraerts is not based solely on the lack of results and the defeat against Darmstadt, but rather on the negative overall development of the past few weeks,” said board chairman Matthias Tillmann.

“Tactically and football-wise, we have not taken the necessary steps, neither as a team nor with regard to the individual players. As a result, we are stuck at the bottom of the table after a third of the first half of the season.”

Regarding the departure of sporting director Wilmots, Tillmann added: “In recent weeks we have had to realise that there are different views on how and in what direction we want to develop football at Schalke.

“From the board’s point of view, however, it is fundamentally important that the club’s sporting leadership team pursue a common line. There must be agreement on the future direction of the professional department. That was no longer the case.”

Jakob Fimpel – who has previously coached the club’s U23s – will step up as interim coach until the next international break, with Ben Manga taking over as sporting director until further notice.

Geraerts’s assistant Tim Smolders has also left the club.