2/6/00 - Sixways hit as Maynard jumps ship

But a new coach will also be brought to help Cooke with the workload after Maynard decided to quit Worcester and become director of rugby at Stourbridge.

"We will require some additional coaching but Geoff will be head of the rugby and will combine it with his role as chief executive," said Worcester chairman Cecil Duckworth.

"We recognise the need to help Geoff and we've one or two people in mind and we can't be too long putting the team together as this is the decision time when people are out of contract.

"We're in that process at the moment and are speaking to people all the time."

Maynard spent seven successful seasons at Sixways, a spell which featured four promotion campaigns, but felt his position has now been compromised.

"I've had some excellent days in the past seven years, it's predominantly good memories and I will miss the crowd because they've been fantastic," said Maynard.

"I feel it's a job half finished as I would have liked to have taken them all the way but making decisions on recruitment has been very difficult in the last couple of years.

"You have to be responsible for the whole thing to justify yourself and have complete control.

"But I would like to think Stourbridge could soon be facing Worcester in the league again, they've got the infrastructure and they're facilities are already up to second division standard.

"I'm sorry to leave Worcester and you can stay there forever but life is about challenges."

Worcester chairman Cecil Duckworth said he was disappointed to see Maynard go but added they have parted on good terms.

"We've done well together and although there is a view by some people more expert than me that maybe he's gone as far as he can we'll never know now," said Duckworth.

"We've had high profile people like Les Cusworth and Geoff Cooke so it's been difficult for him to be taking responsibilities.He likes to be number one and I'm sure he'll do a good job at Stourbridge."