Salford Red Devils have announced the departure of head coach Iestyn Harris.

The former Wales boss has been absent from the First Utility Super League club for the past two months, with the Red Devils initially saying he was on sick leave, but now they have confirmed his departure by mutual agreement.
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Salford chief executive Martin Vickers said: “We are pleased to have been able to come to an amicable arrangement with Iestyn Harris so both parties can now move forward.

“We wish Iestyn all the best in his future career within the game and thank him for his efforts.”

Harris, 39, becomes the third coaching casualty at Salford since Dr Marwan Koukash took over the club two and a half years ago, following the earlier departures of Phil Veivers and Brian Noble.

He left his job as assistant coach of Wigan Warriors to succeed Noble in April 2014 and also stepped down as head coach of Wales to concentrate on his club duties. He was contracted to Salford to the end of 2016.

The Red Devils failed to reach the top-eight play-offs last season and finished next to bottom of Super League at the time of the split for the Super 8s in July.

Under Harris, Salford won just 14 of 41 matches and Koukash’s apparent dissatisfaction came to a head after a 34-28 defeat at Hull KR on the last day of June.

Two days later, it was revealed that Harris had handed in a sick note and his assistant Ian Watson was appointed as interim head coach.

Watson is still in charge and is being assisted by former player Martin Gleeson and new director of rugby Tim Sheens, the Australian national coach who is expected to remain in post for 2016.