Family reasons prompted Steve Diamond to quit Sale Sharks role

Former Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond said family reasons prompted him to quit his role with the Gallagher Premiership club.

Diamond, who had made over 350 appearances as a player with the AJ Bell Stadium based club took over the director of rugby role in 2012 and led them to a Premiership Rugby Cup title and the play-offs in the Gallagher Premiership last year.

However, he announced his departure last month after being the second-longest serving director of rugby in the history of Premiership following which Paul Deacon was appointed as interim head coach.

Admitting that the decision was a difficult one, Diamond said a series of family issues that include death of his brother and mother in successive years along with a a terminal cancer diagnosis for his sister forced him to quit the role.

"I built with Simon (Orange) and Ged (Mason) a fantastic management team, a great club, really solid foundations and I thought if there was a time for me to step aside and let the other people come through that was the best time," he told BT Sport.

"The last four weeks have rejuvenated me and at the right time I'll get back in the horse, but it was the right thing for me to do at the time."