'Disappointed': Melbourne Victory rocked as coach quits after 16 games in charge

Melbourne Victory have been rocked by the news that coach Patrick Kisnorbo has parted ways with the club effective immediately, just days out from the local derby.

Kisnorbo leaves the team in third position on the A-League ladder as he begins his quest to pursue an overseas opportunity.

It remains unclear exactly which team the 43-year-old will be joining or in what role.

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Following a failed stint with French club Troyes, who were relegated to Ligue 2 under Kisnorbo's guidance, the Australian was appointed as head coach of Victory.

Taking over the reins from Socceroos coach Tony Popovic in June, Kisnorbo led Victory in 16 matches across various tournaments and to the final of the Australia Cup.

However, his tenure with the club was cut short in what has been labelled as a "disappointing" occasion by Victory chairman John Dovaston.

"Patrick has advised us that this is an opportunity he wanted to take for his own development as a coach," Dovaston said in a statement.

Victory confirmed Kisnorbo's assistant coach Arthur Diles will take over the head coaching role in bid to bring a sense of "stability and continuity" to the team.

"We thank Patrick for his service and wish him all the best," managing director Caroline Carnegie said in a statement.

"As our attention turns to the rest of the season, we know Arthur is in an excellent position to further build on the strong foundations established as we ultimately strive for silverware.

"Arthur has a deep understanding of the team's dynamics and is well-equipped to ensure stability, maintain focus and provide leadership as the team moves forward."