Sheffield Eagles boss Mark Aston moves to 'temporary' new role while he appeals coaching ban
A Rugby League tribunal found Aston liable for allowing player Matty March to play after suffering a head injury
Sheffield Eagles head coach Mark Aston is to move to a temporary new role at the club, while he appeals an 18 month ban.
A Rugby Football League tribunal found Aston and club physiotherapist Mick Heys guilty of allowing player Matty Marsh to appear for the Eagles after a head injury without having received the necessary medical clearance.
He'll now take on a club ambassador role, aiming to raise commercial revenue for the South Yorkshire side.
In the interim the club will appoint a new Head Coach.
In a statement, Eagles wrote: "In the longer term; either on the successful appeal of the current ban, or when the current sanction comes to an end, whichever is the earliest, Mark will take on the role of Director of Rugby at the club..."
"....(He will work) to mentor and develop the coaching staff across the three programmes, supporting coaches in identifying and recruiting players, succession planning and a continued focus on player development and the player pathway in the city."
"The door will not be closed to Mark for a return as Head Coach in the future, however the new Head Coach, once appointed, will have the full backing of all parties to ensure they can be successful in their role for the duration of their tenure."
Mark Aston said: “I am grateful to the club’s Board of Directors for agreeing to a temporary change in role and allowing me to continue my association with Sheffield Eagles”
“It has been a very challenging time for all, and I recognise that the club now needs some certainty over the Head Coach position.
"The players deserve certainty as do the supporters and sponsors and we all want what is best for Sheffield Eagles.
"I am looking forward to getting stuck into my temporary new role and continuing to take this club forward.”
Aston won the Challenge Cup as a player with the Eagles in 1998 when they upset Wigan, winning the man of the match's Lance Todd Trophy.
He co-founded a new Sheffield Eagles club in 2000 following an unsuccessful merger with Huddersfield and became player-coach.
After retiring as a player in 2004, Aston briefly stepped down as head coach and resumed in the role in 2007.