08.04 Dan Petrescu Leaves Dynamo Moscow by Mutual Consent - Club

MOSCOW, April 8 (R-Sport) - Dynamo Moscow have parted company with Romanian manager Dan Petrescu after a mediocre run of form that culminated in the weekend's 4-0 thrashing by lowly Anzhi Makhachkala.

Dynamo are fourth in the Russian Premier League, but Sunday’s shock defeat dealt a body blow to their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in six years.

"Dynamo have torn up the contract with Dan Petrescu by mutual consent," the club said on Twitter, adding details would follow.

In the five games since the winter break, Dynamo have picked up two wins, two draws and Sunday's defeat. It has left them seven points off Zenit St. Petersburg in second place with six games remaining.

While that may not be the worst form imaginable, Dynamo's new owner, the billionaire Boris Rotenberg, may have expected less of a mountain to climb to reach the Champions League.

Last month, Dynamo sporting director Guram Adzhoev publicly warned former Chelsea right-back Petrescu that Dynamo must win more games if he is to keep his job, and the announcement on Twitter appears to be the result of a board meeting Dynamo held Tuesday.

The discontent at the club prompted speculation that Petrescu could be replaced by Amkar Perm coach Stanislav Cherchesov, who was turned down for the Spartak Moscow job last month.

Petrescu turned around Dynamo last season, arriving with them rock-bottom and leading them to finish seventh.

Petrescu said in September that the target for the season was a Europa League place, which would mean finishing in the top five.