Warriors’ coach Brian McClennan has parted company with the NRL club two games before the end of the season.
He is paying the price for a dismal debut season as a NRL coach, after picking up major trophies mentoring Leeds in the Super League and New Zealand.
McClennan was contracted until the end of the 2013 season, but Warriors’ chief executive Wayne Scurrah on Tuesday said both parties had agreed on an early release “in the best interests of the club”.
Assistant Tony Iro will take over as interim coach to prepare the Warriors for their final regular-season matches against St George Illawarra on Saturday night and then Canberra.
McClennan, appointed Warriors’ head coach last August, was “very disappointed” his tenure hadn’t produced the results he expected.
The announcement comes just a day after McClennan was planning his future at the club, saying in a radio interview that he wanted to bring in former Parramatta coach Stephen Kearney as a second assistant coach.
The Warriors are in 13th position on the NRL ladder, with eight wins and 14 losses.
It’s the first time they’ve not made the finals since 2009.
“No one is more disappointed than me that things haven’t worked out,” McClennan said in a statement.
“I gave it my best shot. I’ve put my heart and soul into this and everyone has been terrific with their efforts.
“I’ve always said I was driving the bus and I accept accountability. It stops with me.
“For whatever reason, we haven’t made the progress we all hoped for.”