Fortuna Köln draws a line under the game. An interim coach is now on the sidelines.

Things have not gone according to plan for regional league side Fortuna Köln in recent weeks. After a great start to the season with five wins from the first six games, they have only managed two wins from seven matches.

As a result, Fortuna are out of the promotion race and also failed to win the Westphalia Cup against 1. FC Düren.

Coach Markus von Ahlen did not want to extend his contract, and now they are parting ways early. He will no longer be in charge of the Südstädter with immediate effect.

In 61 competitive matches, von Ahlen was on the Fortuna sideline, with an average of 1.66 points per game.

In a statement, Fortuna announced: “After S.C. Fortuna Köln had not decided on a possible contract extension with coach Markus von Ahlen until last Friday, Markus informed us on Friday that he would no longer be available for the upcoming regional league season. We then sat down together internally and came to the decision together with Markus after the cup match that both parties would end their collaboration with immediate effect.”

As a result, an interim coach will be in charge of the team in the league match against Rot-Weiß Oberhausen on Saturday (2 p.m.).

Cologne emphasize: “The club’s management wish Markus von Ahlen all the best for his future sporting career and would like to thank him for his trusting and honest cooperation. Until further notice, the existing coaching team and sporting director Matthias Mink will take over responsibility for the team.”

It has not yet been decided who will take over from the summer. Cologne, who are third and nine points behind leaders Alemannia Aachen, still have eleven games to play in the Regionalliga