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Rugby League

Wigan sack Millward

11/04/2006

Wigan Warriors have sacked coach Ian Millward after the club's poor start to the Super League season.

Millward had been in charge at JJB Stadium for just under a year but after only one win from the first eight league games, in which the club had slumped to the bottom of the table, the board decided a change was needed.

"Following a meeting of the board of directors earlier today, the Wigan club can confirm that head coach Ian Millward has been dismissed with immediate effect," a statement from the club said.

Millward was due to face his old club St Helens, who sacked him for gross misconduct prior to his appointment with the Warriors, on Good Friday but now assistant coaches Stuart Wilkinson and Andrew Farrar will take charge of team affairs.

Millward had enjoyed a turbulent few months at the club, where he was unable to revive the fortunes of the team which dominated rugby league in the 1990s.

His task wasn't helped by injuries to key players but a 40-14 defeat to fellow strugglers Wakefield last Friday sealed his fate.

"The club will be appointing a new head coach to replace Ian Millward and an announcement will be made in the near future," the statement added.

Millward's departure is reportedly going to cost Wigan £400,000, as he still had two years of a three-year contract to run.

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