WORCESTER Warriors’ slide towards the relegation zone has prompted a shake-up to the management structure with head coach Carl Hogg being given sole responsibility.
After Dean Ryan’s departure in the summer, Warriors appointed Hogg and high performance director Nick Johnston in a dual management role.
However, after a “review of rugby operations” at Sixways, Hogg will now have sole leadership of playing matters while Johnston continues in his role.
Warriors have won just once in nine Aviva Premiership games and lie second from bottom in the table, six points above Bristol.
Hogg and Johnston were given responsibility of the team following the surprise departure of former director of rugby Dean Ryan in July.
Ryan stunned Sixways chiefs when he asked to be released from his contract, sparking fears he was moving to another Premiership outfit.
However, the former chief has since gone on to become head of international player development at the Rugby Football Union.
Following the Sixways shake-up, Johnston will continue his role as high performance director, overseeing the club’s academy, medical, sports science and player welfare departments.
However, it is not yet clear whether there will be further changes to the existing coaching set-up as Sixways chiefs look to tackle a below-par campaign on the pitch.
Since the pair took the helm, Warriors have won just one of nine Premiership games, which has left them in 11th place on ten points – just six points above basement side Bristol.
Warriors face a potential Premiership survival clash with Bristol at Ashton Gate on Boxing Day with their rivals having already parted company with Director of Rugby and former England boss Andy Robinson.
A Warriors club statement said: “Following a review of rugby operations at the club and discussions with both head coach Carl Hogg and high performance director Nick Johnston, we’ve decided the dual management structure we put in place at the beginning of this season is not providing us with sufficient focus to translate our potential to results on the pitch.
“Accordingly, we’ve streamlined our management structure with Hogg now having sole leadership of the department. Johnston will continue in his role as high performance director.”
Warriors, who were thumped 57-22 at Exeter on Saturday, face another tough task on Sunday (3pm) when they host title hopefuls Wasps.