The Melbourne Renegades have parted ways with head coach Simon Helmot.
Helmot, 42, had coached the Renegades since the inaugural Big Bash season, but managed to guide them to the semi-finals just once in the past four tournaments – the 2012/13 season where they were defeated by eventual champions, the Brisbane Heat.
The Aaron Finch-led side finished this season in sixth position on the ladder with three wins and five losses – two of those to cross-town rivals the Melbourne Stars – which led to the decision not to renew Helmot’s contract.
“We’d like to express our appreciation for Simon’s efforts,” Renegades chief executive Stuart Coventry said in a statement released by the club on Thursday.
“He was involved from the initial stages with setting up the Melbourne Renegades and has been an important factor in instilling our club’s values through his leadership in the following years.
“(However) it is in the best interests of future club success to seek a new direction in the head coaching role.”