Neil Back

Aviva Premiership club Leeds Carnegie have today announced that Director of Rugby Andy Key will be leaving the club with immediate effect as part of a restructuring of the club’s management. Key joined Leeds Carnegie along with Head Coach Neil Back in 2008 and immediately guided the club to promotion to the Premiership in their first season in charge. Last season, Leeds retained their Premiership status and Key was named QBE Director of Rugby of the Season.

However, Leeds Carnegie are currently bottom of the Aviva Premiership having secured only one win this season and the decision has been taken to restructure the management structure.

Commenting on the decision Chief Executive Gary Hetherington said, “This was a tough decision to make however we felt it was important that we took the decision as part of overall vision for our rugby operation. Neil Back will now be in sole charge of all team matters and I, as Chief Executive, will take up some of the other areas that Andy was responsible for. We will not be looking to appoint a new Director of Rugby. We would like to thank Andy for his outstanding contribution to the club in his time here and he leaves with our best wishes,” added Hetherington.

Andy Key, who was previously a member of the Leicester first team coaching staff as well as heading up the Tigers Academy, added, “First of all, I would like to say that I am proud of the achievements we have made here at Leeds Carnegie during my time at the club. Whilst I am disappointed not to be seeing the vision through to its conclusion, having met with the management, I understand the direction they want to take the club in. We have worked exceptionally hard since 2008 to take the club into a positive and professional position and I wish the team and the club all the very best for the future. It has been a difficult season for Leeds Carnegie however I feel that we have made big strides in recent weeks and I have every confidence that the team will continue that good work. I would like to thank all those who have supported me in my time at Leeds Carnegie and the many friends we have made here in Yorkshire,” added Key.