Cologne have sacked coach Markus Gisdol after a loss to Mainz dropped the Bundesliga strugglers into the relegation zone. The club, who are in their second season back in the top flight since promotion in 2019, sit second-bottom in the table, three points behind Arminia Bielefeld who occupy the relegation play-off spot. "With a change of coach, we want to give the team a new boost," sporting director Horst Heldt said in a statement after Sunday's 3-2 home loss to fellow relegation candidates Mainz. Cologne said the club are planning to announce Gisdol's successor shortly. The former Hoffenheim and Hamburg boss took over at the RheinEnergieStadion in November 2019, helping Cologne avoid relegation last season. smk/am/jc/pb