Brent Cockbain goes in Sale Sharks overhaul

Cockbain joined Sharks from Ospreys in 2007

New Sale head coach Mike Brewer has begun the overhaul of Sharks' playing staff by releasing Brent Cockbain.

The former Wales and Lions lock, 35, will leave Edgeley Park along with wingers David Doherty and Dafydd James and flanker Luke Abraham.

Brewer has told director of rugby Kingsley Jones his duties will be long-term squad planning, the academy, spotting new players and development.

"We can't have the players answering to two masters," said the ex-All Black.

"Kingsley called me before the changes were announced to ask if we could meet and invited me to his house.

"For four hours, we sat and talked rugby. As far as the rugby structure goes, I'll be head coach and will coach the forwards and scrum.

Here at Sale, we have so much untapped potential. The luxury here is there is a catchment area in the North West of five million people

New Sale head coach Mike Brewer

"Although Kingsley's precise role is yet to be defined, he is going to be working on the operation side of things in a strategic level.

"He'll be looking at the academy, up-skilling himself such as going to the Canterbury Crusaders and looking at their set-up as well as other set-ups that can enhance the product here.

"That could mean going to Leinster and looking at their model as there is a real parallel between there and here at Sale.

"When I went to Leinster in 2005 as forwards coach, they were averaging about 6,000 people. Within three years we were averaging 16,000 people.

"Achieving that is not just about what happens on the field, it's about the marketing and commercial side of things. It's about taking the game to the public.

"Here at Sale, we have so much untapped potential. The luxury here is there is a catchment area in the North West of five million people as opposed to one and half a million which was the case in Ireland.

"The competition was Gaelic sport, here it's football but otherwise it's a very similar situation."

Brewer has confirmed he will not be involved in team selection for Sale's last game of the Premiership season at Harlequins, leaving the responsibility with Jones.