Connolly leaves Swansea after only nine months in charge

The Australian is the first casualty of the club's decision to go into temporary administration to help ease huge financial problems.

Players Tu Tamarua and John Slade are also leaving with immediate effect. Another two will be confirmed on Monday.

The rest of the squad will stay at St Helen's for the remainder of the season "at an agreed rate of pay", according to a spokesman.

Connolly, a former Australia assistant coach, only arrived in Swansea at the beginning of the season.

He had been touted as the man to bring European glory to the club, but the team has failed to live up to the high expectations.

Paul Moriarty is tipped to take over the coaching responsibilities alongside Tony Clement and Keith Colclough.

Connolly's departure is widely regarded as the beginning of a mass exodus.

"It's a very tenuous time at the moment," Scott Gibbs told BBC Sport. "I'm not really clear as to the position of all the players.

"I'm hearing that many of them would like to leave the club."

After Saturday's league defeat to Newport, club captain Darren Morris said it could have been the last time many of the players will represent the club.

Morris linked with Natal

The players decided to fulfil the Newport fixture and turned in a spirited first half before falling to a 43-27 defeat.

"There are a lot of players who perhaps will never put on a Swansea jersey again," Morris told BBC Wales Sport.

Morris himself has been linked with a move to South African Super 12 outfit Natal Sharks.

He says he has not heard from them, but admitted that the Newport game could have been his last match for Swansea.

Swans stars could move part-time

The players will now be attending training only two nights a week until the end of the season.

The Australian triumvirate at St Helen's - Connolly, assistant coach Paul Healey and scrum-half Sam Cordingley - have a wage bill in the region of �400,000 per annum.

Clubs in England (union and league), France and South Africa are rumoured to be ready to sign Swansea's to players.