Germany part ways with women's head coach Vestergaard

The German Handball Federation has ended the contract with its women's national team head coach Jakob Vestergaard, leaving the position vacant just two months out of the decisive EHF EURO 2016 qualifiers against Iceland and Switzerland.

Ending the contract has been a mutual agreement between the federation and Vestergaard, a federation statement issued on Monday read.

"We have fully analysed the situation and came to the conclusion that we don't agree on a common way for the success on women's handball anymore. There are several reasons for this on both sides," said Bob Hanning, the federation's vice president.

"Looking ahead to the World Championship 2017 we will reset our focus and present a new head coach in due time."

Germany host the Women's World Championship in December 2017.

"We have agreed that there is no common base anymore to continue working together," said Vestergaard. "Both sides now have the chance to look ahead and prepare the next steps."

Vestergaard had been courtside at the German women's national team for just about a year. He had succeeded fellow Dane Heine Jensen in early 2015.

Under his guidance Germany placed 13th at the World Championship 2015 which they had reached courtesy of a wildcard.

In the qualification to the Women's EHF EURO 2016 Germany are currently ranked second with four points, behind France and ahead of Switzerland and Iceland.

They will face the latter two at the beginning of June, playing Switzerland away on 1 June and Iceland at home on 5 June.