Dutch club Heerenveen has lost manager Jan de Jonge after he stepped out of the position following a series of negative results.

The former De Graafschap boss and Heerenveeen youth coach was elevated to the job when Trond Sollied was sacked in September last year but has decided that the club should find somebody else to lead them.

"It didn't work out, that is why I gave back the assignment to the board," he was quoted as saying.

de Jonge saw Heerenveen slip to 13th in the 18-team Dutch Eredivisie and made the decision after a disappointing 3-1 loss to VVV-Venlo on Tuesday.