Hewitt spent less than a year in charge of the Pirates

Cornish Pirates chief executive Rod Coward has said that head coach Mark Hewitt was sacked to allow the team to move forward.

Hewitt was removed on Wednesday with the Pirates lying sixth in the National League One table.

Coward told BBC Radio Cornwall: "The performance of the team wasn't what was expected by the supporters.

"It was felt that some drastic action need to be taken to allow the team to move forward."

"We've got a completely open mind," said Coward.

"I think it's important that we give everyone everyone who considers themselves suitably qualified and experienced the opportunity to apply for the job.

"Hopefully at the end of the process we'll come up with the right man to take us forward."

Coward confirmed that current assistant coach Brett Davey will take charge of the Pirates until the end of the season.

He also made reference to the proposed wage cuts that will come into effect from the beginning of the 2009/10 campaign.

"We'd be foolish to expect that unless there is a significant cup competition delivered by the RFU that we won't achieve the same levels of income that we have achieved this year," said Coward.

"We have a projected budget shortfall and we need to reduce salaries to enable us to build a squad that will be competitive next season."

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