This season’s on-field problems at Newcastle Jets have been compounded off it with the resignation of the struggling A-League club’s chief executive Robbie Middleby and chairman Ray Baartz.

The embattled club announced the pair’s departures amid uncertainty over its ownership and a disastrous start to the season, during which Phil Stubbins’s side have won just once in 14 outings. The Jets head into the two-week Asian Cup hiatus mired in ninth place, four points above rock-bottom Western Sydney Wanderers.

The club, which is using the mid-season break to hold an internal review, has been up for sale since owner Nathan Tinkler put it on the market in August last year – with no buyers to date.

Middleby said his tenure at his local club had been “challenging” but he was nevertheless “honoured” and “grateful” to have been part of the set-up at the Hunter Stadium.

“This decision has been a very difficult one but one that I have made in the best interest of the club and especially my family,” Middleby said on Newcastle’s official website. “I have, and will always support this club and wish the members, staff and players all the best for the future. I hope that this decision can aid the transition to new ownership and allow the club to start a new chapter.”

“I will use the next few weeks to support the mid-season review process and making this decision now will allow me to give an honest and independent appraisal of where the club is at and provide recommendations of how it could best move forward.”

The Jets, who get their campaign back up and running against Adelaide United on 24 January, will now begin their search for a new CEO.