Steve Diamond leaves Sale Sharks with immediate effect

Sale Sharks have announced that Director of Rugby Steve Diamond has left the club with immediate effect due to personal reasons. Paul Deacon will take charge of the team as head coach while the club 'take stock and plan for the future.'

In a short statement posted on the club's website, Sale thanked Diamond for his 'loyal service and commitment'.

'The club would like to thank Steve for his loyal service and commitment over the years. He leaves Sale Sharks in a strong position having improved the club in many ways and we wish him every success for the future."

Diamond said he will be taking some time away from the game before planning his next move.

"After 10 proud years with Sale Sharks I have taken the decision to step away from the business," Diamond said.

"I feel that this is the perfect moment to hand over to someone else, given the club is now stable and in a great position to compete at the highest level.

"We have acquired a world class training facility, built an academy that is the envy of many premiership clubs and constructed a squad that can win tournaments and trophies at domestic and European level.

"I know Simon and Ged will continue with the progress we have made together, and I now look forward to taking some time out and planning my next challenge."

Sale have won two of their opening three games of the current Gallagher Premiership season.

They finished fifth in last season's table but missed out on the Premiership play-offs due to an outbreak of Covid-19, which led to the club forfeiting their final league game of the season. Diamond, who also led Sale to Premiership Cup success last season, was recently cleared of any wrongdoing in his handling of the Covid-19 outbreak at the club.