Leicester Tigers have sacked director of rugby Richard Cockerill after nearly eight years in charge.
The 46-year-old has been on the Premiership club’s coaching staff since 2004, took over as head coach in 2009 and became director of rugby in 2010.
“It is with great sadness and regret that I leave my position. I still believe that I am the right person to lead the team,” Cockerill said.
Head coach Aaron Mauger will take over on an interim basis.
Tigers are fifth in the Premiership, 15 points adrift of leaders Wasps having lost five of their 12 league games so far this season. The were beaten by 16-12 by Saracens on New Year’s Day.
Cockerill, who has spent 23 of the last 25 years of his career with Tigers, said he “respected the board’s decision” to make a change they see as being “in the best interests of the club”.
He added that “This club has made me the person and the coach I am today and I will never forget what they have done for me. I will miss being part of the Tigers family.”
Last month, following the 18-16 Champions Cup win over Munster, Cockerill said reports claiming he faced the sack and that described the coaching structure at Leicester Tigers as toxic were “rubbish”.
Former England and Tigers hooker Cockerill spent 10 years with the club as a player from 1992 before returning to Welford Road as an academy coach.
After two spells in interim charge he was appointed full-time head coach in April 2009, with Tigers winning the Premiership title and reaching the European Cup final in his first season in the role.
Leicester have never failed to reach the Premiership semi-finals under Cockerill and as well as winning the final in 2008-09, they were also victorious in 2009-10 and 2012-13.
Tigers chairman Peter Tom CBE said that “We thank Richard for his loyal and dedicated service as a player, coach and director of rugby. He has a great passion for the club and for the game of rugby, and has shared in many massive occasions with the Tigers.
“The club always has aspirations to contest the major honours in the game and that remains unchanged but the board believes this is the right time to make a change.”
As a player, hooker Cockerill made 262 appearances for Tigers, winning five league titles, two domestic cups, two Heineken Cups and he also played 27 times for England.
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