Gloucester captain Phil Vickery has insisted the club are determined to finish what departing director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre began and bring success to Kingsholm this season.

Three years to the day after Saint-Andre succeeded Richard Hill, the former France international stepped down as Gloucester's director of rugby.

Protracted contract negotiations failed to breach the impasse and Cherry and Whites chairman Tom Walkinshaw announced that Saint-Andre will be leaving the club after Saturday's Zurich Premiership clash with Harlequins.

The former Les Bleus captain had been seeking added security from the club before agreeing to extend his current deal, which was due to expire in the close season.

His three years in charge had not been without success as Gloucester rose from relegation candidates to their current position of second in the Premiership and in the last four of the Parker Pen Shield.

A path back into the Heineken Cup, a competition in which they reached the last four in 2000 and were only beaten by eventual champions Leicester, is on the cards.

However, Walkinshaw announced that "during our recent negotiations we both came to the conclusion that it was better for both Philippe and the club to go our separate ways".

Vickery, the England prop who cemented his position as one of the world's finest on the Lions tour to Australia, gave Saint-Andre a ringing endorsement and pledged to continue his good work.

"These are obviously difficult circumstance and I think we all wish Philippe well," he told PA Sport.

"You can't knock his commitment to the club - leaving when we are in the semi-finals of the Shield and second in the Premiership.

"He has moved us from a club struggling and not competing in own country to won that is up there challenging with the best in Europe; there are a lot of plus sides.

"Certainly, personally I wish him all the luck and success.

"Obviously, it's going to be difficult full stop. But we've done the hard work and we've got to finish things off.

"We want to take the fans to a final and qualify for the Heineken Cup. The games must be won."

Saint-Andre will remain in nominal charge until after the Quins game and though he talks like a pro, the Frenchman already has a number of options up his sleeve.

"I think we have found the best way for the club and for me," he said.

"After the Harlequins game the club can prepare for the future and I will be free of all appointments.

"I will treasure my five years at Gloucester as a player and as a coach and will do everything to win on Saturday and put the team in the Heineken Cup.

"I have some other options that I will have to analyse but I am focused right now on Harlequins and after that I will look at other options."

One option is a move back to France where top-16 club Bourgoin have targeted his services.

Struggling behind Heineken Cup semi-finalists Montferrand and Castres in Pool Two of the French top-16 championship, Bourgoin are assessing the possibility of a merger with Lyon and have already been in touch with Saint-Andre.

Bourgoin spokesman Jean-Claude Rabatel said today: "I am not going to lie. There has been contact between Bourgoin and Philippe Saint-Andre.

"The discussions started two weeks ago - it was the president who contacted the Gloucester coach."

And after hearing the news that Saint-Andre was to leave Gloucester, Rabatel added: "So far we haven't got any news but the club should decide tonight whether they want him or not."

Reports this morning indicated Gloucester may have already lined up a replacement but, until one is confirmed, Saint-Andre's management team will take the reins.

And Vickery has urged the club to stick with the team that has guided them onto the brink of success.

"That's Tom's decision but it would be very difficult to bring someone in for end of season," he said.

"The team would have to change its total philosophy which is not a good move "Its a decision for Tom and the powers that and be, we must concentrate on playing rugby."

Vickery, whose current deal also runs until the summer, added that the departure of Saint-Andre would not effect his decision either way.

He has courted interest from European champions Leicester and local rivals Bath, but said: "Hopefully we can come to an agreement.

"It doesn't make any difference to me."