YORKSHIRE Carnegie have reached an agreement with head coach Gary Mercer that means he will leave the club with immediate effect.
The Headingley club's chief executive Gary Hetherington said: "We would like to wish Gary the very best for the future and thank him for his efforts since joining the club.
"Unfortunately for both ourselves and Gary, things have not worked out how we all had hoped back in the summer. However, both parties can now move forward having concluded this mutual agreement."
The 48-year-old former Bradford Northern player was appointed last summer but has not led the team since the draw with Plymouth Albion in November.
The Greene King IPA Championship side refused to confirm at the time that he had left the club but former Wharfedale coach Tommy McGee has been in charge of the first team since then.
Carnegie are currently ninth in the table, 14 points off the play-offs with nine games remaining, and lost five of their seven Championship matches under Mercer.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here