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Jones: Exit

I believe with my job firmly done at the Ospreys it is the best time for a new hand to come in and move the team on to the next level of development

Lyn Jones
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Ospreys' coach Lyn Jones has resigned after more than a month of speculation about his future at the club.

Jones, who has coached the Magners League side since their inception in 2003, quit on Friday saying he had taken them as far as he could.

The announcement comes less than six weeks after the bitter disappointment of the star-studded side's Heineken Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of unfancied Saracens.

Their poor performance in the Magners League, finishing 24 points behind winners Leinster in seventh place, had further fuelled talk of a change at the top.

Jones, who led Ospreys to EDF Energy Cup glory this season, said he was proud of his record but it was time for someone else to take the club to the next level.

New challenge

"I take great satisfaction in our many achievements over the past five years," he said.

"The region now stands as one of the leading sides in European rugby and that is something that I know everybody involved at the Ospreys is proud of.

"Having achieved the success, I feel its now time to get my teeth into a new challenge and look for fresh horizons.

"I believe with my job firmly done at the Ospreys it is the best time for a new hand to come in and move the team on to the next level of development."

Jones' assistant boss Sean Holley and forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys will continue at the Liberty Stadium under Ospreys elite performance director Andrew Hore.

Hore, who joined the club in March, has spent the last two months conducting a wide-ranging review of the Welsh region and will now lead the hunt for a replacement.

Ospreys managing director Roger Blyth said: "Our challenge now is to recruit a coach of worldwide calibre capable of picking up the reins from Lyn.

"Our focus will be on an individual of outstanding ability, professionalism, leadership and innovation with the capability of taking the squad on to the next level.

"We want the right man for the job and we are prepared to look hard and fight hard to get him."