Sporting director Joerg Schmadtke has taken responsibility for Cologne's disastrous start to the season by parting company with the Bundesliga's bottom side.

Despite having been voted 'manager of the year' by German football magazine 11Freunde only in July, after Cologne finished fifth last season, Schmadtke has left the club by mutual consent.

"With this step, I want to make the way clear for some new impulse," said Schmadtke in a statement.

As Schmadtke departs, coach Peter Stoeger remains in his position despite Cologne having taken just two points from their first nine league games.

The two-time Bundesliga champions are already six points from outright safety after a 0-0 draw with Werder Bremen at the weekend.

They play Hertha Berlin away in the German Cup on Wednesday.

Schmadtke, 53, spent four years with Cologne. He had a contract until 2023.

Many fans blame the team's dreadful start to the season on Schmadtke's decision to send last season's 25-goal top scorer Anthony Modeste on loan to China.

Modeste joined Tianjin Quanjian in July in a deal that could be worth 35 million euros ($41.1m) if he makes his two-year loan move permanent.

Under Schmadtke and Stoeger, Cologne were promoted back to Germany's top flight in 2014 and last season qualified for Europe for the first time in 25 years.

However, they are bottom of their Europa League group with three defeats from three games against Arsenal, Red Star Belgrade and BATE Borisov.