the club's poor form continued in 2009–10 and they finished third-last. with this season, a new promotion/relegation format accompanied the introduction of the 3. liga and rostock found itself in a playoff versus the third place third division club fc ingolstadt. hansa lost both legs of the contest and was sent down to the 3. liga, while ingolstadt won promotion to the 2. bundesliga alongside the top two third tier teams which advanced automatically by virtue of their finishes. their stay was a short one as they were sent back down after finishing bottom table in 2011–12.