WORCESTER Warriors have this morning announced director of rugby Dean Ryan has been released from his contract and will leave his post immediately.

Moving forward, Warriors' senior management team will consist of head coach Carl Hogg and high performance director Nick Johnston, who will report to chief executive Jim O'Toole.

Hogg, who has six years' experience as a head coach at Warriors and Gloucester, retains responsibility for the first-team squad, while Johnston continues his work running the academy, medical, sports science and player welfare departments.

O'Toole said: "We are very sorry to see Dean move on from Sixways.

"He has been instrumental in developing and putting in place our long-term plan and we have been delighted with our progress and the momentum we have built up over the last three years.

"Dean has also helped to build a team around him who are ready to step up to the next level and build on that progress. For the first time in Warriors' history we have an active succession plan which has already kicked in.

"We are an ambitious club with sights on the top six places in the Premiership and the Champions Cup."