Matt Parish has resigned from his role as head coach of Salford City Reds less than six months into the job.
Salford coach resigns after just six matches in charge
Matt Parish has resigned from his role as head coach of Salford City Reds less than six months into the job.
The 42-year-old Australian was chosen as the successor to Shaun McRae in June and officially took charge at the Willows one month later on an 18-month contract.
He was at the helm for the last six matches of the 2011 Super League season, with five of those contests ending in defeat.
"Salford City Reds can today confirm that Matt Parish has resigned his position as head coach for personal reasons, with immediate effect," the club said in a statement.
The statement added: "Matt leaves the club in a much stronger position than he found it on the field, with what the club believes to be one of the strongest and most innovative coaching set-ups in Super League ready to take the club on into the new stadium at Barton.
Thanks
"Everyone at the club would like to thank Matt for his efforts whilst at the Reds and we wish him well in his future coaching career.
"Matt would like us to pass on his thanks and appreciation to the Reds fans for their fantastic support during his time in England and to the players and coaching staff for their hard work and dedication.
"There will be no further comment on this issue. Announcements regarding the coaching staff will be made in due course."
Despite his short time in the job, there were already signs of fractures in Parish's relationship with the club after he claimed to have been misled over the depth of talent available to him.
He appointed Sean Long as his assistant earlier in the year but the former St Helens and Great Britain scrum-half shocked Salford by signing as a player for rugby union side Preston Grasshoppers.
Parish had quit his role as right-hand man to New South Wales coach Ricky Stuart to step up to a senior coaching role for the first time and his expected to return to Australia as an assistant with an NRL club.
His sudden departure from Salford leaves the Reds with little time to find a successor, with pre-season training already under way and the club set to move into a new home at Barton.
