French Top 14 side Grenoble have reportedly removed Irish head coach Bernard Jackman of his duties.
The former Connacht, Leinster and Ireland man replaced Fabrice Landreau as FCG's head coach last year, having been appointed on a consultancy basis as skills and forwards coach in 2011 and made full time the following season.
Grenoble, however, currently occupy 13th position in the French Top 14, which sees two sides relegated per season.
Eric Clert and Thomas Perotto report in Le Dauphine that Jackman was called to an emergency meeting by the Grenoble board where it was made clear to him that he would be removed from his position at the end of the season. Jackman, however, refused to see out the season under such conditions, and has now departed the club.
At an exceptional meeting on Tuesday (March 14th) at Lesdiguières stadium, the Isère leaders made it clear to the Irishman that he would be eliminated at the end of the season. Bernard Jackman would have explained that he did not want to finish the season under these conditions, while there remain six days of championship and a possible hold to ensure by finishing in 13th place
Le Dauphine also reports that forwards coach Aaron Dundon and former Munster scrum-half Mike Prendergast will take charge of the first team for the rest of the season.
It's understood that the emergency meeting was called after three of FCG's players were involved in a rape complaint at the weekend, and that this incident led the Grenoble board to believe Jackman no longer had sufficient control over his players.
Exclu @DLsportgrenoble : l'entraîneur du #FCG Bernard Jackman a été écarté de ses fonctions ce mardi matin. https://t.co/h8xMLnPMT8 #Top14
— Thomas Perotto (@thomasperotto) March 14, 2017
After Racing 92 and Stade Francais announced their shock merger yesterday, it was hoped that 13th spot might be enough to save Jackman and Grenoble, because - as it stands - next season will see the Top 14 become a Top 13, and as such it was suggested that only one club might be relegated this campaign. This issue is yet to be resolved, but Jackman will play no further part in Grenoble's battle for survival, whatever the circumstances.
