Sale sack head coach Brewer

Sale Sharks have announced the immediate departure of their head coach Mike Brewer.

The former New Zealand international flanker was only appointed to his role earlier this year following a coaching reshuffle at the club.

Sale are currently 10th in the Aviva Premiership with just three wins from nine starts under Brewer's direction, and they are unlikely to progress from their Amlin Challenge Cup pool following successive defeats against French side Brive.

Former Sale player, current Sharks academy coach Pete Anglesea, will replace Brewer until the end of this season, assisted by new forwards coach Steve Scott, backs coach Byron Hayward and defence coach Graham Steadman.

Brewer, who played for New Zealand in the 1995 World Cup final against South Africa, was appointed as successor to former England union and league star Jason Robinson eight months ago.

His arrival at Edgeley Park followed a poor 2009/10 campaign when Sale finished 11th in the Premiership, just four points above relegated Worcester.

But Brewer has been unable to make an impact, although his job was not made easier by injuries to key players, including Mathew Tait, Charlie Hodgson and James Gaskell, the young forward prospect he appointed skipper in August.

Sale owner Brian Kennedy said: "We would like to thank Mike for the dedication and commitment he has shown to the club.

"I am personally very disappointed that this has not worked out, as I have a great deal of respect for him, and of course I wish him all the best for the future."

Club stalwart Anglesea must now head up preparations for his first match in charge - Monday's appointment with reigning Premiership champions Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

Kennedy added: "Pete Anglesea is the obvious choice to lead the team in the short term.

"He has been part of the club for many years as a player, and his coaching record this season with the (Sale) Jets and the LV= Cup squad is exemplary and he has yet to taste defeat.

"We will now undertake a thorough search to secure the best coaching team and structure for the future.

"We have a superb crop of young players coming through the academy, a set of established internationals plus the desire to make a number of key new signings over the next six months."

Sale's squad includes the likes of current England internationals Hodgson, Andrew Sheridan and Mark Cueto, Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel, Samoan international full-back Paul Williams and Fijian number eight Sisa Koyamaibole.

But performances have not been delivered on a consistent basis, with just three league scalps - Newcastle, Harlequins and Leeds Carnegie - claimed since he took charge, while their last Premiership game under Brewer's direction produced a 24-19 defeat at newly-promoted Exeter.

And in Europe's second-tier Challenge Cup, Sale are seven points behind Brive with just two games left. Only group winners progress to the quarter-finals.