Yorkshire have parted company with Wayne Clark, the coach who steered them to Championship glory in 2001.

Clark: From hero to villain

But they will not be axing captain Darren Lehmann, despite rumours to the contrary after the Australian's racist outburst in a VB Series game last week.

Clark was at the helm as Yorkshire were relegated the season after their Championship triumph.

Yorkshire are unable to officially confirm Clark's sacking because of ongoing negotiations over the remaining terms of the Australian's contract with his solicitors.

But they will announce the termination of his contract after the board meets at Headingley on Thursday.

Clark, whose deal took him to the end of the 2003 season, was offered the role of bowling coach but turned it down.

"It is too early to be definitive about this but let's just say it is highly unlikely Wayne Clark will be returning to Yorkshire County Cricket Club," chief executive Geoff Cope told BBC Sport Online.

In response to allegations Clark was made to pay for Yorkshire's poor 2002 season, Cope said: "Not entirely.

"There are other factors at work that will be brought out at the meeting on Thursday."

Yorkshire are standing behind Lehmann

Cope said Lehmann would not be following Clark out the door.

"Darren is very much welcome back at Yorkshire," Cope said.

"He is very highly regarded here and we know what he said was totally out of character for the Darren we know.

"Had it happened in England we would have been moved to deal with it, but we feel it has been dealt with and he has been penalised for it."

Lehmann was banned for five matches by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and could miss the start of the World Cup.

Abandoned tradition

Yorkshire abandoned years of tradition when appointing Clark as their first overseas coach three years ago.

He came with a good pedigree, having turned Western Australia - a side like Yorkshire with plenty of talent but no trophies to show for it - into a winning unit.

Yorkshire must have had their reasons but I have no idea why they have sacked Clark Ex-Yorkshire captain David Byas

From 1995, he guided them to two Pura Cup final victories and two more triumphs in Australia's one-day competition.

But the sweet taste of success provided by Clark at the end of the 2001 season was followed by relegation last season.

Yorkshire recorded just two wins in 16 matches, and things were hardly helped by constant financial worries.

Members decided in August the club's �5m overdraft would have to be doubled if they were to stay afloat.

Former Yorkshire captain David Byas, who guided the county to the title two years ago, told BBC Sport Online: "This has come as a surprise to me.

"Yorkshire must have had their reasons but I have no idea why they have sacked Clark."

Byas, who joined arch-rivals Lancashire for a season, has now retired from cricket.

But he said he would not rule out returning to the game as a coach.

He said: "It is a hypothetical question because nobody has asked me to coach Yorkshire.

"But I have been in the game a long time and I am not closing the door on anything."