FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2019, file photo, Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey walks on the field after an NFL preseason football game between the Detroit Lions, in Cleveland. The Browns and Dorsey have mutually agreed to part ways the team announced Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Browns “mutually parted ways” with general manager John Dorsey two days after the team fired coach Freddie Kitchens following a disappointing season.

Dorsey’s stunning departure today came after he refused to take a reduced role within the organization offered to him by owner Jimmy Haslam, who once again with his wife, Dee, are cleaning house and restructuring the front office after the Browns finished 6-10.

The Browns are in the preliminary stages of their coaching search, which will be affected by Dorsey leaving. The team has received permission to interview several candidates, including New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Baltimore offensive coordinator Greg Roman.

Cleveland is also expected to meet with former Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy, who was believed to be the front-runner for the Browns’ job last year but surprisingly didn’t interview.

The Haslams have been unable to find any continuity since buying the team from Randy Lerner in 2012. They’ve fired five coaches and five lead football executives since buying the team from Randy Lerner in 2012.

Dorsey had revamped the Browns during his two seasons as GM, but his hiring of Kitchens backfired as the Browns fell way short of expectations and missed the playoffs for the 17th straight season — the NFL’s longest current drought.

In a statement, the Haslams thanked Dorsey for his efforts, saying “he has helped create a foundation that we need to continue to develop and build upon.’

The Haslams acknowledged Dorsey had “greatly” improved the team’s talent but added “we fully recognized that our team did not meet its potential on or off the field and additional changes in leadership give us the best opportunity for success in the future.

“As the role of the general manager continues to evolve in this league we felt there were areas that needed to be reassessed. Over the last 48 hours, we’ve had discussion with John about his role but could not come to an agreement on a position that would enable him to remain with the organization.

“As we conveyed on Sunday and our players reiterated yesterday, bringing in a strong leader with our head coach is our priority. Our process to improve upon the leadership will allow the flexibility to ensure we create the best partnership between our future head coach and general manager. We know the road of our tenure as stewards of this franchise has been a test of patience as we all want the success that our fans so deserve and we are relentlessly committed to and working towards. We fully appreciate, understand and empathize with our fans as we work towards our ultimate goal of building a championship-level football team.”

Earlier in the day, the Browns postponed a scheduled news conference with Dorsey, with the team saying it was pushing it back until Thursday because of the New Year’s holiday and meetings about the coaching search.

However, there was much more taking place as Dorsey was being pushed aside after just two years on the job.