Kiyoshi Nakahata has turned down a request to stay on as manager of the Yokohama BayStars and will step down at the end of the season, the club said Friday.
Nakahata has decided to resign to take responsibility for another dismal year for the Central League club. As of Thursday, the Yokohama-based BayStars had a 62-78-1 record and were languishing in familiar territory at the bottom of the CL standings.
"I am the only person that can take responsibility for this woeful situation," the 61-year-old Nakahata said.
BayStars general manager Shigeru Takada had admitted it would be difficult to change Nakahata's mind.
"As a club we are unified (in wanting Nakahata to continue as manager). That won't change, but it will be hard trying to stop him (from resigning)," Takada said.
With the BayStars atop the CL standings for the first time in 17 years going into the All-Star break in July, Nakahata looked set to agree to a request to stay on as manager next season, but the team ran out of steam in the second half of the season and missed out on a place in the post-season playoffs.
Yokohama hasn't finished higher than fifth in the standings since Nakahata took over in 2012.