Dickens 'not surprised' at Newcastle departure

Newcastle Red Bulls head coach Alan Dickens says he is "disappointed" but not surprised to be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Dickens said he was told the news in a phone call last month with Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend.

"I am generally positive as a character," Dickens told BBC Sport.

"Yes I was disappointed, I wanted to stay on. But that's part and parcel of professional sport.

"I've enjoyed my time here. Would I like to be involved here going forward? Absolutely yes, but it's not to be."

When asked if the news had come as a surprise, Dickens said: "No."

Dickens was promoted to the role of head coach in October after director of rugby Steve Diamond left Kingston Park.

Townsend, currently preparing for Scotland's next Six Nations game with France at Murrayfield on 7 March, has a 30-day-a-year consultancy role with Red Bull, owners of Newcastle since last summer.

Newcastle have one more Prem Rugby Cup game away to Harlequins on Saturday before they return for eight more league games and a Challenge Cup last-16 tie at home to French giants La Rochelle.

But while much focus is on the future for Red Bulls with a raft of new players signed up for next season, there is still a vast amount of rugby to be played before then.

And Dickens also recognises the next few months offer a shop window for himself and those members of his squad not yet signed up.

"It's myself, it's [line-out coach] Scott MacLeod, it's the players," said Dickens.

"I want to stay in the game and hopefully before the end of the season, I'll find somewhere. If not, I'll have to look at other options.

"You've got to stay positive. I won't throw my dummy out of the pram, I'll continue to work hard."