Mainz axes coach Martin Schmidt

Berlin - Martin Schmidt became the tenth Bundesliga coach to be sacked this season after Mainz showed him the door having only narrowly avoided relegation.

Mainz's 2-0 defeat at FC Koln on Saturday, the last day of the German league season, left it 15th and only out of the relegation places on goal difference.

Schmidt, 50, who took over in Feb. 2015, had another year left on his contract, but the Swiss paid for six defeats in Mainz's final 10 games.

"The mutually agreed and amicable ending of the co-operation took place after a very frank and honest discussion with Martin Schmidt on Sunday evening," said sports director Rouven Schroeder.

"The joint decision is a consequence of the analysis of the past season."

Along with Schmidt, his assistant coaches have also left the club.

With the new season to kick off on August 18, Mainz has plenty of time to find a replacement with Under-23 coach Sandro Schwarz linked to the vacancy.

"My wish is to quickly settle this issue, but we will not be driven by external factors," added Schroeder.

Schmidt's dismissal means exactly half of the league's 18 clubs have parted with their coaches this season.

Wolfsburg sacked Dieter Hecking, then Valerien Ismael. Under Dutchman Andries Jonker, who took charge in February, the club finished 16th and now face a two-legged play-off to stay up.

Werder Bremen dismissed Viktor Skrypnyk, and Hamburg axed Bruno Labbadia in September.

Then followed Ingolstadt (Markus Kauczinski), Darmstadt (Norbert Meier), Augsburg (Dirk Schuster), Borussia Monchengladbach (Andre Schubert) and Bayer Leverkusen (Roger Schmidt).