Phil Davies celebrates winning the Powergen Cup this year

The move follows a dreadful start to the season which has seen the Headingley club lose all eight games in three different competitions.

Senior players Justin Marshall, Gordon Bulloch and Iain Balshaw will now have a significant input into team selection and training in the short term.

"I have recognised something needed to change," Davies told the Tykes website.

"I have been with Leeds for 10 years and I have also had a long-term vision for the club which has always featured a new head coach position.

"This is has been an ongoing process that we have looked at over the past three years.

"I have found it increasingly difficult to combine the roles of director of rugby, head coach and forwards coach and the start to the season has brought this into sharp focus."

Whether I have any involvement in the first team playing matters remains to be seen Phil Davies

Davies has been head coach since 1996 and led the club from National Division Three to promotion to the Premiership in 2001.

They survived their first season after National League One champions were denied entry into the Premiership in 2002.

The next season Leeds finished fifth in the table and made their Heineken Cup debut in December 2003.

And earlier this year Leeds produced a stunning 20-12 victory over Bath at Twickenham to win the Powergen Cup.

The club launched a high-profile recruitment drive over the summer but despite the captures of internationals such as Marshall, Bulloch and Roland De Marigny, Leeds have only claimed one point in five Premiership games.

I don't think he should stay on as director of rugby, that won't work out From MW Have your say on Scrum V

They have also lost their two Powergen Cup group matches and were thumped 40-13 by Cardiff in the Heineken Cup last weekend.

"In the short term, I will work alongside a group of senior players from within the squad whilst we look to appoint a suitable candidate of the right quality for this position," Davies added.

"I have a number of people in mind who could fill the position, who would have the right qualities we are looking for and would be able to work alongside our current coaching team.

"The new head coach will have complete responsibility for the first team playing matters. Whether I have any involvement in the first team playing matters remains to be seen.

"We are looking to make the appointment as soon as possible but that is dependent upon the right person being available to come to us. This is the start of a process and we certainly will not rush into a decision."