Former Barking director of rugby Dean Cutting

Barking director of rugby Dean Cutting has been replaced with immediate effect by Nick Warren as the club looks to avoid a second successive relegation.

Chairman Terry Marner believed the changes had to be made after failing to see an improvement in the team’s recent performances against sides around them in the table, including Saturday’s 55-14 loss at Southend.

“We had been assessing the performances on a week-by-week basis, but we were under no illusions how difficult this season would be with a new coaching set- up and group of players,” said Marner, who had called a meeting after Saturday’s loss.

“On top of that we were playing what turned out to be the top six or seven sides in the early part of the season. But in recent weeks when we have played the likes of Dings and Southend who are towards the bottom of the table we haven’t seen an improvement that we would have liked.”