Hull FC have confirmed that coach Peter Sharp has left the club by mutual consent and with immediate effect.
Australian departs Black and Whites by mutual consent
Hull FC have confirmed that coach Peter Sharp has left the club with immediate effect.
The Australian, who, at 53 was the oldest coach in Super League, therefore becomes its first coaching casualty of the season.
Hull added that the decision was reached by mutual consent.
The announcement comes less than a fortnight before the club's Carnegie Challenge Cup quarter-final with Bradford.
However, Hull currently lie second from bottom of the Super League table following Sunday's 34-26 defeat at Harlequins.
Hull chief executive James Rule said: "On behalf of the board of directors, staff and players at Hull FC, I would like to thank Peter for his contribution to the club and wish him the best of luck in his future career."
Sharp's assistant Richard Agar has been placed in temporary charge as the team prepare for Sunday's home game against St Helens.
Instant success
Having coached Manly in the NRL, Sharp took over from John Kear at the KC Stadium in April 2006 and proved an instant success.
In Sharp's first 17 matches in charge, Hull recorded 14 victories and earned a second-placed finish in the table.
A trip to Old Trafford for the Super League Grand Final followed, but they lost to St Helens.
Hull finished fourth last season but 2008 has so far proved difficult, with just four victories being taken in their opening 14 league matches.
Sharp's cause was not helped by a run of injuries which began pre-season with the loss of half-backs Adam Dykes and Richard Horne, winger Matt Sing, loose forward Richard Whiting and captain Lee Radford.
Frequently without seven first-choice players, Hull's injury woes surfaced once more on Sunday when Whiting, having just recovered from a broken arm, suffered a broken leg which will keep him out for the rest of the season.
Former Dewsbury and Rochdale stand-off Agar gained first-team coaching experience at York before joining Hull as Kear's assistant and has been seen as Sharp's long-term successor.
However, Hull could be interested in the services of former Leeds coach Graham Murray, who is available having resigned from his post with the North Queensland Cowboys earlier on Monday.
