Leeds Rhinos head coach Richard Agar has stepped down from his role following the club’s disastrous start to the season.
The eight-time Super League champions have lost five of their opening six Super League games and Agar had come under increased scrutiny.
Although he has quit as head coach with immediate effect, Leeds say the former Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity boss will have a future role at the club, which will be confirmed at a later date.
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Agar had been tipped as a long-term successor to Kevin Sinfield as Leeds’ director of rugby and could now move ‘upstairs’ with a new head coach set to be brought in.
Assistant coach Jamie Jones-Buchanan will be the new interim head coach working with Sean Long and performance director Richard Hunwicks along with the rest of the existing rugby department ahead of this Saturday’s Challenge Cup tie against Castleford Tigers at Headingley.
Agar took the reins after David Furner was sacked in May 2019 and steered the Rhinos away from relegation before delivering the Challenge Cup the following in 2020.
Last term saw Leeds go to within 80 minutes of the Grand Final but, despite a raft of high-profile signings this year, they have failed to perform.
Agar said: “When I first took on the head coach’s job three years ago, I agreed with Kevin Sinfield and Gary Hetherington that I would do so on the basis that I could help take the team forward.
“I agreed a six-month rolling contract and I was happy to continue whilst ever we were making progress.
“However, I don’t feel like I am having the impact I would hope to on the squad.
“I am proud of our record over the last three years. The club was in a tough position when I took over, we battled against relegation before facing the unprecedented challenges of Covid and an injury ravaged squad last season.
“On the field, we won the Challenge Cup at Wembley, reached the play offs in the last two seasons and saw the emergence of a number of highly promising young players.
“I really believe we have a strong squad who have the potential to achieve this year.
“They are working hard in training every day but unfortunately this has not materialised in to results and ultimately that responsibility rests with me.”
