Sale will stick with their current coaching set-up according to their owner © Getty Images

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News: Mitchell quits Sharks for 'personal reasons'

Tournaments/Tours: Aviva Premiership

Teams: England | Sale Sharks

Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy has denied reports that the club are set to unveil Andre Bester as part of their coaching team.

It has been a turbulent few months in the Sharks' backroom staff since the start of the season. They originally appointed former Gloucester boss Bryan Redpath as their new director of rugby ahead of the 2012-13 campaign but his role was later changed to head coach. Forwards coach Steve Scott was dismissed just four matches into the season which led to chief executive Steve Diamond assuming a hands-on role on the training field.

Former Lions coach John Mitchell was drafted in on a consultancy basis and there were suggestions that the Sharks were keen on tying down the former All Blacks coach as their director of rugby. But he left the Sharks at the weekend to return to South Africa - a matter of weeks after being official unveiled.

Owner Kennedy said on Saturday that the coaching team for the rest of the season would be Diamond, Redpath and assistant Pete Anglesea but reports suggested that the Sharks were pursuing former Rotherham boss Andre Bester to take charge of their forwards. But Kennedy has denied these suggestions through a statement posted by Sale's media manager on an internet forum.

"I have spoken to BK [Brian Kennedy] this morning and he would like to STRESS that he has not mislead the supporters," the post read. "Andre Bester will NOT be joining Sale Sharks. The coaching team is now Steve Diamond, Bryan Redpath and Pete Anglesea. BK said he is fully behind Steve Diamond who is working hard and has a real passion for the club.

"BK would never mislead supporters of Sale Sharks who he sees as his partners in the club. BK re-iterated his statement from Saturday where he said that John Mitchell had left the club for personal reasons and that he respects John's decision."