Former Australian coach Tim Sheens will quit his job as Salford director of rugby to take over at Super League rivals Hull KR, Red Devils owner Marwan Koukash has announced.
The ex-Wests Tigers' coach, who guided the Kangaroos to World Cup glory in 2013, has agreed to a three-year deal to take the reins at relegation-threatened Rovers from the end of the season.
Sheens, 65, is just 12 months into a three-year contract with the Red Devils but has been headhunted to succeed Chris Chester and interim boss James Webster at the KC Lightstream Stadium.
"I always said I would release Tim if he got the opportunity to become a head coach," Koukash told AP.
Sheens will see out the season with Salford and, if they meet Hull KR in a playoff to determine 12th place in Super League for 2017, Koukash says the Australian will step aside from his role for the fixture.
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Sheens, who relinquished the Kangaroos' job last October following his appointment with the Red Devils, will return to hands-on coaching five years after leaving the Wests Tigers.
At Salford, he took a back-seat role to allow Ian Watson to take charge of the team and Koukash says the former halfback is now ready to branch out on his own.
"Ian has progressed so well that there was no prospect of Tim becoming head coach and I am very confident he can now cope on his own," said Koukash, who dismissed speculation he would be joining Sheens at Hull KR.
