Saracens sack Smith
April 25, 2002

Former Australia coach Greg Smith has had his temporary contract with Saracens terminated after only three weeks.

Smith was taken on in the role of performance director to help the relegation threatened club for the final five weeks of the season and he had hoped to take over in a full time capacity next season.

A newspaper report said it was Smith's lack of charisma that cost him the job and he was told he was not the right person to take the club forward.

Smith has returned home to Australia, reportedly bitter at his treatment and believing he had not been given a fair chance.

Saracens has been without a coach since Francois Pienaar left in February.

Former Wallaby Tim Horan and other senior players Kyran Bracken and Richard Hill were running the team, including selection, along with assistant coaches Bob Crooks and Tim Wright, even while Smith was there.

They will continue in that role for the rest of the campaign with former All Black Wayne Shelford to take over next season.

Shelford will join ex-All Blacks coach Wayne Smith (Northampton) and former Ireland boss Warren Gatland (Wasps) as New Zealanders in charge of English premiership clubs.

Smith also left the Fiji coaching post last year after 10 Tests in charge citing "personal differences" with the Fiji Rugby Union.

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