BOURNEMOUTH have released director of rugby Crispin Cormack and head coach Paul Dunne following a disappointing first half of the season.

Lions are ninth in National Three South West following relegation from National Two South in 2013-14.

They have won six of their 17 league games, drawn one and lost 10.

Former Premiership star Tim Collier, Craig White and Dan Connolly will take over coaching duties for the remainder of the campaign.

Cormack assumed the role of director of rugby at the end of last season after previous boss Budge Pountney had stood down for personal reasons.

Welshman Cormack had previously held the role of backs coach which he took up in July 2013, the same time as Dunne came on board as head coach.

A club statement read: “Crispin Cormack and Paul Dunne have been released by Bournemouth Rugby with effect from January 20, 2015.

“The decision was not made lightly and the executive would like to thank Crispin and Paul for all their hard work and dedication during their tenure.

“The executive committee felt that the club was not moving in the right direction and needed to look to the future, more particularly the next three to four years.

“For the remainder of this season, the senior coaching will be undertaken by Tim Collier and Craig White (forwards) and Dan Connolly (backs).

“The executive committee will not be rushing to appoint other coaches or a director of rugby/coaching but will look carefully at our current structure before making any decisions.

“The wish of the executive is to appoint coaches from within the club and Bournemouth’s coaching coordinator, Mark Mulcahy, is actively working to bring on suitably qualified coaches.

“Bournemouth Rugby currently have a number of very good coaches within our academy and minis section who are progressing well.

“Bournemouth Rugby’s aim is to move forward within its financial means with support from its many supporters and sponsors.

“We are living in challenging financial times but the executive committee is confident that it can guide the club to success whilst at the same time balancing the books.”