SHEFFIELD EAGLES have parted company with coach Craig Lingard after almost two years in the role.
The development comes following discussions in the aftermath of a seventh-placed Championship finish and progression to stage two of the play-offs, with a 26-10 defeat at Barrow Raiders finally ending the Eagles’ campaign.
Now Sheffield say they will take “a new direction” in terms of coaching.
Former Keighley Cougars, Batley Bulldogs and Castleford Tigers boss Lingard, 48, arrived at the Eagles in December 2024, which meant he had limited time to to prepare for a 2025 campaign in which his charges finished eleventh out of the 13 teams competing in the old-style Championship.
All that was against the backdrop of club legend Mark Aston’s 18-month coaching ban for breaching RFL rules around a player returning to action after a head injury.
While the original plan was for Aston, who was working in a commercial role when Lingard was appointed, to become director of rugby, he ended his 40-year association with the club in August 2025.
Announcing Lingard’s departure, Sheffield said: “Following a meeting, it was decided that it would be best for Craig to move on and for the club to take a new direction for our men’s head coach.
“With significant changes ahead for the Championship next season, including the introduction of a new salary cap and new league structure, the club believe this is the right time to make changes as we look to build for the future and prepare for the next chapter of Sheffield Eagles and address the financial-sustainability measures being introduced at this level of the game.
“We would like to place on record our thanks to Craig for his contributions and efforts across the past two seasons, and we wish him all the very best for the future.
“Craig came to Sheffield Eagles in very difficult and unusual circumstances and dealt with those circumstances very professionally and much to his credit.”