Struggling English Super League club Leeds Rhinos have sacked their Australian head coach David Furner.
Furner was just six months into a three-year contract after succeeding Brian McDermott at the start of the season but the 2017 Super League champions are currently third from bottom with just four wins from their opening 14 games.
Leeds director of rugby Kevin Sinfield said: “This was a very difficult decision and not one we have taken lightly.”
The shock move comes ahead of the Rhinos’ Coral Challenge Cup sixth-round tie against Bradford and assistant coach Richard Agar will take charge on an interim basis.
Leeds say Sinfield and chief executive Gary Hetherington met with Furner over the weekend following a 28-16 defeat by Salford.
Sinfield added: “David was an outstanding candidate to be our head coach and was my first choice for the job.
“Unfortunately, we have not started the season as we had all hoped and action was needed to move in a fresh direction with this group of players this season.
“I would like to thank David for his commitment to the club especially the sacrifices he made to travel from his home in Australia to take up our challenge.”
Furner, a who had nine-year playing career with Canberra in the NRL, had a stint at the Rhinos at the end of his rugby league career in 2003/04.
He had coached the Raiders between 2009 and 2013.