CAPS United sacked their coach Lloyd Chitembwe on Monday after a poor run of results.
Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Kiglon was the trigger for his exit following weeks of demands for his head by United’s disgruntled supporters.
Of their 13 games played so far this season, United have lost five times, drawn four and won four – an unacceptable return, said United bosses.
But both coach and club director Farai Jere were keen to emphasise Chitembwe – a United playing legend – had left by mutual consent.
Chitembwe has his supporters at United who feel the club left him in the lurch after selling five of its best players to South African Premier League clubs – including goal machine Nyasha Mushekwi.
But Jere told the Herald: “The team that has been playing in the league has not done well and even when the key players who left for South Africa were here, it was the same story because we won just three out of eight games while our rivals Dynamos won their first eight.
"Inevitably when we struggle, and Dynamos do well, there is pressure that comes from the fans because they want results.”
Jere said they had given Chitembwe two more games to save his job but the coach – who had four months left on his rolling one-year contract -- opted to leave immediately, ending his one year and eight months reign.
Jere said a decision on Chitembwe’s replacement would be made soon.
Chitembwe, who leaves with team manager Wilson Mutekede, assistant coach Mike Madzivanyika and welfare manager Shakespeare Chinogwenya, said there was no bitterness.
"It’s a split by mutual consent and it is related to the situation that our team finds itself in right now and, as the head coach, it is only fair that I should take responsibility," he said.
"The results were not coming our way and I have the responsibility for the results on the pitch and I take full responsibility for them.
"The atmosphere was no longer conducive and it was now clear that my presence in the team was now creating unnecessary friction among a lot of people and it was starting to affect my private life.
“I did my best and I have to say that I enjoyed fantastic support from the directors of the club, my players and the true CAPS United fans.
"There is nobody really to blame for where we are because we are in a process, trying to rebuild the team, and you can’t cut corners in the process and it has to take its full course with the players blending.
"We have a vacuum right now since the departure of the key players to South Africa, but hopefully things will work out because CAPS United needs to be stronger and they need to keep fighting for honours.”