Russia coach Georgy Yartsev has resigned, the new head of the Russian Football Union (RFU) has confirmed.

“We’ve received a (resignation) letter from Yartsev and I don’t think we’re going to object,” St Petersburg politician Vitaly Mutko, who succeeded Vyacheslav Koloskov as RFU president on Saturday, told Russian television.

“I definitely feel that we need to strengthen the position of national team’s head coach,” Mutko said on Saturday.

Yartsev’s resignation came just two days after Mutko, who had previously said Yartsev’s days as coach were numbered, was elected president of the RFU.

Yartsev presided over Russia’s disappointing Euro 2004 campaign, which saw them become the first team to be eliminated from the tournament after losing their opening two group matches.

Russia currently lie third in their World Cup qualifying group, three points behind joint leaders Portugal and Slovakia. Yartsev has been under huge pressure since Russia’s humiliating 7-1 defeat to Portugal.