After just seven weeks in charge, North Wales Crusaders coach Mike Grady has departed the club, leaving the side rock bottom of the Championship.
Financial issues earlier in the season forced the side into liquidation before a phoenix club was formed by ex-owner Jamie El-Kaleh. As a result, they were hit with a 12-point deduction meaning they currently sit on -6 points.
They started the season with ex-Hunslet boss Dean Muir in charge, before he departed in late March. He was replaced by Sean Long, before Grady stepped in in early June.
Since then, he has undertaken six games in charge, but in that time his side have scored just 22 points and conceded 578 – an average of 96 per game.
As a result, the board have opted to part ways with thr former Salford RLFC man, and their search for a new coach has already begun.
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A statement released by the Crusaders reads in full:
“North Wales Crusaders can confirm that Mike Grady has departed from his role as Head Coach with immediate effect.
“Mike returned to the club in June to guide the team through a challenging transitional period following the club’s restructuring under new ownership. We would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Mike for his time, dedication, and efforts during his tenure. His commitment to the club, the area, and the fans has always been appreciated.
“As we look toward the future, the club’s focus now shifts entirely to building a robust foundation for the 2027 season. We are committed to securing a strong leader with a clear direction who will take full ownership of our rebuilding process, ensuring that North Wales Crusaders are competitive and resilient moving forward.
“The search for a new Head Coach is already underway, and a formal job description will be published shortly. We wish Mike the very best in his future endeavors.”
Grady himself shared comments on social media. He said: “Today I’ve informed North Wales of my decision to step away from the club, Jamie, Conrad [owners] and staff are working tirelessly each day to ensure that rugby league has a place in North Wales.
“I wish the club, staff, players and the loud and proud supporters all the best going forward.
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The Joker
July 21, 2026 at 1:58 pm
Obviously, this is a job no-one wants. What are the prospects?