Coach Vitezslav Lavicka and Sydney FC will part ways at the end of the A-League season.

Announced at a press conference on Friday, club chief executive officer Dirk Melton said the Sky Blues would seek a different direction in which to go forward, having failed to hit the heights of Lavicka’s first campaign in charge – the title-winning 2009-10 season.

Lavicka, 48, will return to his native Czech Republic, where his family still resides.

He said in a press release: “I have enjoyed my time at Sydney FC and I want to continue to do my best and work hard with the players and staff at Sydney FC to be as successful as possible this season.

“But for next year I am living too far away from my family and they are very important.”

Sydney FC becomes the second team in three days to announce a coaching change, with Melbourne Heart to farewell inaugural manager John van ‘t Schip at the end of his club’s campaign.

Before Lavicka departs, he will seek to cement his side’s finals place. Despite a struggle to put together consistent results, the Sky Blues lie in sixth spot on the table.

But with just a two-point buffer from the Newcastle Jets and with Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United not far behind, Sydney can ill-afford any slip-ups.

Former Sparta Prague manager Lavicka is the Sky Blues’ longest-serving coach.  He followed his title-winning season with a disappointing ninth-placed finish in the 2010-11 campaign. (Goal)