Finke leaves Cologne

Cologne director of sport Volker Finke has left the club by mutual consent due to "contrasting views" with Stale Solbakken.

Win over Berlin saves Solbakken's job

Cologne director of sport Volker Finke has left the club by mutual consent after an apparent inability to form a working relationship with manager Stale Solbakken. The pair had endured a frosty relationship for several months and Finke was in February forced to play down reports he wanted to become Cologne's coach. After Saturday's 1-0 win over Hertha Berlin, Cologne confirmed the inevitable on their website in a statement that said "contrasting views" had led to Finke's exit. Cologne will release a full explanation on Sunday outlining the reasons behind the move and the action they will take to replace Finke. The Cologne boss and Solbakken have hardly seen eye-to-eye since the director of sport bought North Korea international Jong Tae-se without consultation during the winter. Solbakken admitted the pair only had a "professional" relationship, but tensions between them had led to a situation in which the only solution was for one to leave.