FC Gifu on Friday fired manager and Brazilian-born former Japan midfielder Ruy Ramos after a string of poor results, the J. League second-division team announced.

The 59-year-old Ramos, who was in the final year of his three-year contract, will be replaced by Megumu Yoshida, who joined the Gifu coaching staff this season.

“I want to find a way through this situation and somehow try and secure our J2 survival,” the 43-year-old Yoshida told a news conference.

Gifu has struggled since Ramos took over as manager in 2014. The team finished 17th in his first season, 20th last year and is currently on a five-match losing streak and in 18th place in the 22-team division.

Its last defeat came on Wednesday when it was beaten 1-0 at home to Zweigen Kanazawa, who had started the match in last place in the table.

Yoshida has previously coached at first-division Sagan Tosu, where he was also made manager mid-season in August 2014 until the end of the campaign.