Schalke parts company with Dutch coach Rutten

German side Schalke 04 said on Thursday that thay had parted company with their Dutch coach Fred Rutten.

Mike Buskens, Youri Mulder and Oliver Reck, all members of the club’s backroom staff, will take charge of training.

Earlier Thursday, the 46-year-old Rutten said he had expected to leave the struggling Bundesliga side at the end of the season.

Rutten had a contract with Schalke until 2010 having only taken over as trainer of the Royal Blues in July 2008, but the club are eighth in the table and have been blighted by erratic form this season.