ADRIAN Skeggs has been axed as Worcester Rugby Club coach after less than a year in charge.

The Australian, who signed a one-year contract as director of coaching last July, has paid the ultimate price for failing to bring Premiership rugby to Sixways.

Worcester chairman Cecil Duckworth today confirmed that Skeggs will not be offered a new deal for next season after his side finished second to Leeds in the race for the National One title.

He also revealed director of rugby Geoff Cooke will also be changing roles next season as he focuses more on his chief executive position rather than his backs coaching.

Two new coaches will be brought in, possibly as early as next week, to spearhead Worcester's promotion bid which begins in September.

"We've been discussing the situation with the coaching for a number of weeks but we did not want to change anything before the end of the season," said Duckworth.

He added: "We realised that there would not be a position for Adrian which is obviously unfortunate for him because he has brought a lot of good things to the club.

"However, we did not feel that the coaching of the forwards, which is his main speciality, was really going in the direction of Premiership rugby."

Skeggs came under pressure after Worcester's failure to win the promotion head-to-head at Leeds last month and Duckworth admitted it was that defeat which eventually cost him his job.

"The arrangement was always based on a one-year contract unless we got into the Premiership and then it would be renewed. Having not achieved that, it provided the opportunity to re-assess the situation and we felt he could not fit into the new organisation."

The former Bedford man's release, however, will come as a surprise to many supporters after the club initially confirmed they would look for continuity rather than changes.

Duckworth, though, rejected suggestions that the club were making a knee-jerk reaction to missing out on promotion.

"There is no point in continuity for continuity sake. If things are not working, they have to be changed. It is unfortunate for Adrian but we have to be in the Premiership."

Skeggs declined to comment on his release.