One Championship side have been dealt a major blow on the eve of the rugby league season with a senior coach leaving the club.
Sheffield Eagles, who were supposed to be in pre-season action tonight for Quentin Laula-Togaga’e’s testimonial prior to its cancellation, have seen assistant coach Simon Brown resign his role at the club.
With the Eagles in Challenge Cup action in a fortnight’s time, it’s an untimely blow for a club that has already had a new head coach appointed in the off-season.
Craig Lingard was appointed as the replacement head coach after Mark Aston was banned by the Rugby Football League from coaching or any involvement in team selection for 18 months.
Aston was found guilty of breaching RFL rules around player safety and medical protocols after playing Matty Marsh in a Challenge Cup tie against Wigan without the necessary medical clearance. Suspended mid-season, he was later banned which led to Lingard’s appointment.
The resigning Simon Brown had been a part of Aston’s coaching team meaning his exit now represents more change from the 2024 season.
Rugby League club lose assistant coach on eve of season
It also leaves Craig Lingard without a senior member of staff and a short window in which to replace him ahead of the club’s first competitive game – which will be against either West Bowling or Cutsyke Raiders.
The Eagles confirmed that Brown’s departure came after he failed to agree terms of a new contract with the club statement providing more information.
It read: “Sheffield Eagles would like to announce the departure of Assistant Coach Simon Brown, who has resigned from his coaching role with the club after failing to agree terms for a new contract.
“Originally a player with the Eagles, Brown joined the club back in 2010 from Leeds Rhinos, before he returned for a second spell in 2017. He went on to make a total number of 105 appearances for the Eagles as a player.
“After retiring as a player, Brown stepped into coaching and returned to the club a couple of years ago to act as an assistant coach, where he later stepped up to lead the team in an interim role at the end of last season.
“We’d like to thank him for his services to Sheffield Eagles over the years and we wish Simon all the best with his future endeavours.
