Oldham Rugby League Club and head coach Stuart Littler have parted company after a poor run of form in which the Roughyeds have lost three of their last four games and dropped from third in BetFred League One to fifth.

In a statement the club said Littler had been “relieved of his position” and that managing director Mike Ford will take over for the rest of the campaign, while the board will look for a new head coach to start next season.

Ford, aged 57, was brought up in Saddleworth and went to Saddleworth School, and played and coached at his home-town club in his younger days before switching to Rugby Union, coaching several top clubs and reaching international level as defence coach with England.

He returned to the rugby league club he supported as a boy earlier this year when it changed hands and now operates as managing director alongside new chairman Bill Quinn.

Quinn said: “Recent results and performances have been disappointing and have fallen short of our expectations. We believe we are more than capable of achieving promotion and with the play-offs fast approaching, the board felt the time was right to take a new direction.”

Oldham, who play Cornwall away on Sunday, are guaranteed a play-off spot with four games to play against Workington Town and Midlands Hurricanes at home, and Cornwall and derby rivals Rochdale Hornets away.

Littler, the former Ireland boss who has been linked with a head coach job at Championship club Widnes Vikings, was out of contract with Oldham at the end of this season.