Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Alan Dickens won five of his 20 games as Newcastle head coach

By Adam Lanigan

BBC Sport, North East & Cumbria

Newcastle Red Bulls head coach Alan Dickens is to leave the club with immediate effect.

Dickens had been due to depart at the end of the season but an agreement has been reached to allow him to "pursue other opportunities", the club said in a statement. , external

He joined Newcastle in the summer of 2024 to work under director of rugby Steve Diamond, but was promoted to head coach when Diamond left after one game this season.

The Red Bulls' current senior assistant coach, former Wales fly-half Stephen Jones, has been appointed head coach until the end of the season.

Dickens, who has coached at Northampton Saints, Leicester Tigers and with England Under-20s, managed just one win from his nine Prem games in charge, with Newcastle bottom of the table, five points adrift of Harlequins.

But he did lead Newcastle through their group in the Challenge Cup…