Koukash: Noble has not been sacked

Salford owner Marwan Koukash says Brian Noble has not been sacked, but has been offered a different role within the club.

Noble, 53, has been replaced as head coach by Iestyn Harris, but has a deadline of 5pm Friday to decide on Koukash’s offer of director of football.

Koukash says that the team needed to go in a different direction after a poor start to the season.

“We have been desperate for a director of football, and if Brian does not want the role then I will be speaking to another high-profile option,” said Koukash.

“Brian has not been sacked, I just want him to take up a different position.

“Ideally he would move into areas such as the youth structure, because at the moment we have two completely different set-ups – the youth and the first team.”

Koukash would not reveal the name of his alternative to Noble, as the person in question is already employed elsewhere.