Former Super League leaves Championship role as club prepare for ‘new league structure’

Craig Lingard, who coached Castleford Tigers in Super League season 2024, has left Championnship club Sheffield Eagles with immediate effect.

Lingard, who took up the Sheffield job shortly after being sacked by Castleford, has been in charge of the Eagles for the past two seasons, undertaking the difficult task of following on from Mark Aston who had coached the club since 2007, having coached the club for six years prior in his first stint.

Aston’s exit marked a major shift at the club and Sheffield had a difficult first season under Lingard, placing 11th in the Championship as they won just six games.

They’d finish seventh this past season before being knocked out of the play-offs by Barrow Raiders after winning their first-round game against Lingard’s former club Batley Bulldogs.

Sheffield have now announced the departure of the former Super League coach, explaining that it’s a decision that they have come to after a meeting earlier today [Thursday, 1st October].

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Sheffield Eagles part ways with ex-Super League boss Craig Lingard

Sheffield have explained their decision by framing the context of the new Championship season, which they confirm will have a ‘new league structure’ alongside the new salary cap. As such, they’ve taken the decision to prepare for the ‘next chapter of Sheffield Eagles’.

They said: “Sheffield Eagles can confirm the club has parted ways with head coach Craig Lingard with immediate effect.

“Following a meeting held earlier today, Thursday 1st October, with Craig, it was decided that it would be best for Craig to move on and for the club to take a new direction for its men’s head coach.

“With significant changes ahead for the Championship next season, including the introduction of a new salary cap and a new league structure, the club believes that this is the right time to make changes as we look to build for the future and prepare for the next chapter of Sheffield Eagles and address the financial sustainability measures being introduced at this level of the game.”

The club have expressed their thanks to Lingard, who now becomes one of a handful of ex-Super League coaches without a job. Also on that list is Paul Rowley, who St Helens announced the ‘formal’ exit of earlier this morning ahead of an expected appointment elsewhere.

𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗕 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧

Sheffield Eagles can confirm the club has parted ways with head coach Craig Lingard with immediate effect.

📕 READ | https://t.co/hSiH438Tfv#WeAreSheffield pic.twitter.com/aZslL2qPsm

— Sheffield Eagles (@SheffieldEagles) October 1, 2026