FC Tokyo will sack manager Hiroshi Jofuku for the second time with the 55-year-old struggling in his first year back at the club, the J. League first-division side announced Sunday.

Jofuku coached the side from 2008 and won the Nabisco Cup in 2009 before he was fired for the first time in 2010. He replaced Massimo Ficcadenti ahead of this season, but could only manage ninth in the first stage. The club has lost its last three games to place 16th in the second stage.

Tokyo sits 13th in the overall season standings, dropping sharply from its fourth-place finish last year, with complaints within the squad heard regarding the manager's team selections.

An announcement is expected in the coming days regarding a successor to Jofuku, who led Ventforet Kofu to promotion to J1 in 2012.

FC Tokyo was knocked out of the Asian Champions League in the round of 16, when it drew 2-2 with Shanghai SIPG over two legs but lost on away goals.