Ospreys statement: Allen Clarke departs with 'immediate effect'

The Ospreys and Allen Clarke have finally gone their separate ways after a month of behind the scenes legal wranglings - bringing to an end a sorry saga for the PRO14 club.

The club released an official statement on the matter this evening, saying that Clarke would leave his position with the club with 'immediate effect'.

Clarke – who was handed a three-year deal in April 2018 – had been in limbo due to legal matters since the end of November. The Ospreys had initially claimed it was a matter of personal conduct.

The official club statement read:

"Ospreys can announce that they have reached a legally binding agreement to part company with head coach Allen Clarke with immediate effect.

"Mr. Clarke joined the region as forwards coach in 2017 before being promoted to head coach after signing a three-year contract in 2018.

"The Ospreys would like to thank Mr Clarke for all his efforts and contribution while he was at the Liberty Stadium.

"There will be no further comment by the Ospreys on this matter."

How Ospreys have handled the situation was much criticised in November after James Hook and assistant coach Richie Pugh attended a PRO14 event at Cardiff City Stadium but refused to take questions regarding Clarke and whether or not he was still the team boss.

Millward claimed: “The purpose of the PRO14 meeting was to talk about PRO14 and rugby so we were obliged to supply a coach and a player, not management, so it was unavoidable other than you [the media)] could have chosen not to ask them kind of questions to the people you had in front of you and you didn’t.”

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