Keiron Cunningham has been sacked as head coach of St Helens, the Super League club have announced.
St Helens made the decision after the 14-14 draw with Huddersfield at the weekend that left them seventh in the table following a disappointing start to the season in which they have lost half of their matches.
Eamonn McManus, the St Helens chairman, said: “Keiron has been with the club for 24 years as man, boy, player and coach. The commitment that he has shown to the club throughout, and in every capacity, has been without equal.
“It is both upsetting and disappointing for us all that it has ended at this point in time. Keiron nevertheless understands the position and, as a mark of the man that he is, wishes only well and good to the club, its players and everyone associated with it.”
Cunningham made 496 appearances for his home-town club from 1993 to 2010 and won every possible honour in that time. He was named in the club’s “greatest 17” as well as heading a fans’ poll to have a statue erected in his image to honour the club.
On his retirement from playing in 2010 he joined the club’s backroom staff initially as assistant strength and conditioning coach and became assistant to the acting head coach Mike Rush in 2012. He then served under Brown for two years before being promoted and was in charge for 76 matches.
“His statue outside the ground is a deserved reflection of his immense contribution to the club. That is clear, obvious and permanent,” McManus said.
“We will now look to move the club forward and will immediately commence the search for a new head coach. St Helens is a world‑class club with a great squad of players and its only objective will be continuous success at the highest level.
“Assistant coaches Sean Long and Jamahl Lolesi will be joined by under-19s coach Derek Traynor to form an interim coaching team until a new head coach is appointed and in place.”
