Tuesday 12 December 2017 15:51, UK
Director of rugby Jim Mallinder has been sacked by Aviva Premiership club Northampton Saints.
Former England full-back Mallinder was the Premiership's longest-serving rugby director, having taken over at Franklin's Gardens in June 2007.
Northampton, who won the Premiership in 2014, suffered a 43-32 defeat to Ospreys in the European Champions Cup on Saturday leaving them on the brink of elimination. It was their ninth defeat in their last 10 games in all competitions.
The Saints are 10th in the Premiership following four victories from 10 games this season.
"This is not a decision that has been taken lightly, but the board and major shareholders felt that the time was right for some change," Northampton chairman John White said in a statement.
"Jim has been an outstanding director of rugby. We have been very lucky to have him at Franklin's Gardens and he will always be a part of the Saints family."
Northampton have confirmed attack coach Alan Dickens will take temporary charge of the side until a replacement is found for Mallinder.
Mallinder clinched trophies in each of his first three seasons at Franklin's Gardens, winning a National League One and National Trophy double before securing the European Challenge Cup and the LV= Cup in the seasons that followed.
That success paved the way for a run all the way to the Heineken Cup final in 2011, where Saints came within a whisker of claiming the European crown.
But Mallinder's greatest success was still to come as Northampton lifted the Aviva Premiership trophy in 2014 having fallen just short in the final the previous year.
"Jim has done a superb job as Northampton Saints' director of rugby over the last decade, and the amount of silverware the club has won during his tenure speaks for itself. We thank Jim for all he has done at Franklin's Gardens," commented Mark Darbon, Northampton Saints CEO.
"We will now begin an extensive search to find a world-class director of rugby to replace Jim.
"Whilst that search is underway, we will look to bolster our existing coaching group with some additional leadership and experience on a short-term basis for this season.
"Alan Dickens will oversee rugby and coaching matters on temporary basis as interim head coach."
