Brian McDermott's Leeds Rhinos axing not what Gary Hetherington envisaged

Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington says the club needed to change direction after a run of seven successive defeats.

Following the news Brian McDermott had been sacked as the head coach of Leeds Rhinos, Hetherington admitted this was not a position he expected to be in.

"It's certainly a surprise to many I would imagine and certainly not what we envisaged," Hetherington told Sky Sports News.

"I didn't plan to be in this position part way through a season but we are a critical stage with four key games that will determine the outcome of whether we are trying to get back into Super League or are indeed competing to retain our title at Old Trafford."

McDermott's eight-year spell at the club was extremely successful with four Grand Finals to his name, as well as two Challenge Cups and a World Club Challenge.

Hetherington said McDermott was not happy with the news: "Brian is obviously extremely disappointed with the outcome, it's not what he would have wanted.

"It was never intended that an exit would be in this way but this is the nature of Super League, of sport, and we do find ourselves in a situation where we do need to affect some positive change."

Leeds face Castleford on Sunday with a decision still to be made on who will take the team going forward.