Director of rugby Andy Key and head coach Neil Back will remain at Leeds Carnegie
Leeds Carnegie chief executive Gary Hetherington has dismissed speculation that the sacking of director of rugby Andy Key and head coach Neil Back is imminent.
It was rumoured that Back and Key would leave the club after Leeds were thrashed 51-18 by Harlequins, in their Aviva Premiership match on Sunday 28 November.
Hetherington was quick to rubbish talk that either Key or Back would leave Leeds. “I was disappointed by the story. It is a complete fabrication. I was disappointed and annoyed to read that story. It referred to a club source. Well anyone who knows Leeds
Carnegie knows there are no sources within the club and certainly none that would be involved in decisions like that," Hetherington told BBC Radio Leeds.
Leeds have failed to win a match in the Aviva Premiership this season and they are rooted to the bottom of the table.
The team are seven points adrift of the Newcastle Falcons who are in 11th place in the league.
Hetherington was quick to defend his coaching staff and stated that it was not the club’s policy to sack coaches. “We don't react to disappointing results by sacking the coach. That is not our way. In fact we have only had three coaches here in the last
15 years and the last one left to take a big job with the RFU. We don't sack coaches. The story has no foundation whatsoever," said the Leeds chief executive.
Back and Key have only just signed new contract extensions that will keep both men at the club for the following year.
However, Hetherington did admit that Leeds’ form so far this season was not good enough and he urged everyone involved with the club to turn the team’s fortunes around. “We do recognise that we are in a very disappointing position and there needs to be a
collective effort to try and turn things around as we did last year,” said the Leeds chief executive.
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