Soccer coach quits after death threat

COLOGNE, Germany, April 27 (UPI) -- A German soccer coach has resigned his position following a death threat from the team's fans.

Frank Schaefer left Cologne of the Bundesliga with three games remaining on the schedule.

Spectators had left a sign reading "If you go down we'll kill you" Monday at Cologne's practice area. The threat is thought to be linked to the chance that Cologne, which has lost its last three games, may be regulated to a lower division.

Cologne is 10-16-5 this season and is 14th in the 18-team Bundesliga. It is three points above the relegation line with games left against Bayer Leverkusen, Eintracht Frankfurt and Schalke 04.

Schaefer took over the team in October and said then he would leave after this season. Team Director Volker Finke is to coach the team for its final games this year.

"I take the responsibility in my position to make the best decisions for the club and the team," Schaefer said on the team's official Web site.

"In view of recent results and in particular of the way we've played I have come to the decision that for the remaining games the team urgently needs another change and above all new impetus."