Sale Sharks confirm coach exit after decade-long service

Head coach Paul Deacon has parted company with the Gallagher Premiership semi-finalists Sale Sharks after 10 years’ service at the club.

Rumours have been circling for a while that the Sharks were looking for a change of head coach, with Marco Bortolami and Joe Shaw’s names being mentioned, while former player Joe Ford has been strongly tipped for a coaching role.

Former Azzurri international Bortolami is a free agent after Benetton decided to release him from his contract earlier this year, while Saracens head coach Shaw is an old ally of Sharks Director of Rugby, Shaw, from their time together at Saracens. Of the two, the Bortolami rumour would appear to have more legs.

Meanwhile, Ford has made a good impact as head coach of Doncaster Knights, steering the Championship club to third in the league in his first full season in charge, on the back of a strong finish to the season. He has an obvious advocate in his brother, Sharks fly-half, George Ford.

Deacon came to Sale in 2015 after a highly decorated career in rugby league as a player and coach, working as attack/skills coach for four years before stepping up into the head coach role.

“It’s been a rollercoaster ride over the last 10 years, but I’ve loved every minute. I came to the club not knowing too much about the game but I wanted to test myself,” said Deacon.

“The last five years, in particular, have been unbelievable. To reach four semi-finals out of five seasons has been incredible – my only regret is that we didn’t manage to win the Premiership but I’ve got no doubt that will come.

“I’ve worked with some amazing players and some brilliant coaches and I’ll look back on my time at Sale really fondly and with a lot of pride. I’m just sad it’s come to an end.

“I’d like to say a massive thank you to Steve Diamond for bringing me to the club, to Simon, Michelle and Ged and to Alex for their friendship and support, and I’d like to thank the players and Sharks supporters for making the last ten years so enjoyable.”

Meanwhile, Sharks director of rugby Sanderson described Deacon as “his rock.”

“Deacs has been here ten years and in that time, he’s brought through a generation and he’s developed a team from being competitive to having the ability to reach finals and compete for the title.

“For the last five years, he’s been the first person I call on a Sunday. He’s been the most diligent, the most hard-working and the most dependable head coach, and for me on a personal level, he’s been a rock.

“As a man, he’s got real class and I know he’s never wanted the kind of praise or recognition that I’m giving him now. But he deserves it, and I’ve told him that whatever we go on to achieve, it’ll have his stamp and his handwriting on.

“I’m really grateful to have had the chance to work with him. On every level, he’s got the full respect of not just me, but everyone at the club, and I know I speak for everyone when I say that we wish him all the best for whatever comes next.”

The club says they will be making announcements on the coaching team in the next few days.