Hetherington explains Key's exit from Leeds Carnegie

Key was named Premiership director of rugby of the season last year

Leeds Carnegie chief executive Gary Hetherington has said that the decision to sack director of rugby Andy Key was down to both results and finances.

Leeds have no intention to employ another director of rugby after Key was shown the door on Thursday.

Hetherington told BBC Radio Leeds: "We have an expensive backroom staff and if we spend all our money there, we can't spend it on players.

"We felt we were top heavy in that department so made this decision."

Key left with Leeds bottom of the Premiership, three points adrift of Newcastle.

It's difficult for me because Andy is a very close friend. I've know him over 21 years, and it will be different not to see him five, six days a week.

Leeds head coach Neil Back

Hetherington added: "Changes were already happening in the coaching department and it was felt we needed to speed up those changes.

"The change would have certainly been made at the end of the season. But with our position we need to be totally focused on winning matches and getting week to week results so it was felt we needed to make the change now.

"We feel other members of the management team can adsorb a lot of the work done by the director of rugby without having a detrimental effect.

"In terms of the team performance you have to make a judgement call. Do we think this will negatively affect the team's performance? We think not.

"We'll miss Andy's professionalism and abilities but believe the rest of the coaching team can bring success."

Head coach Neil Back will now take full charge of first-team duties, starting on Sunday at Saracens.

Back said: "It's difficult for me because Andy is a very close friend. I've know him over 21 years, and it will be different not to see him five, six days a week.

"The change has been made and now we have to adapt and take on the duties left by Andy. I'm confident we have the strong leaders in the team and in the coaching setup to cope with that.

"Hopefully we'll get the right reaction from the players on Sunday at Saracens. We met following the news and said that the responsibility was on everyone on that room to be really positive now and help us achieve our objectives.

"We are all very confident that we will stay up this season."