SLOUGH Rugby Club have parted company with head coach Darran Brown following an internal investigation into a match-fixing scandal last season.

Slough were punished by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for jointly fixing the result of a match, which left Brown and one other member of staff suspended from the sport and the club deducted 25 points.

It emerged that after a scheduled away match to Chipping Norton on February 6, which was actually called off due to bad weather, staff of both clubs hatched an agreement with the referee to instead record a 24-24 draw.

Slough avoided relegation from the BBO Premier but have taken the decision to release Brown from his duties as head coach.

Brown is disappointed with the outcome, but insists both he and the club will move forward with “exciting opportunities” ahead .

“Both parties are keen to draw a line under what has happened and we will go our different ways,” he told the Observer.

“Whether the club and I agree, I will leave between us, but it certainly wasn’t an easy decision. It may have been an easy decision to make on paper, but only time will tell if it was the right one.

“I have respect for some people at the club and it is now up to the new coach to make it the right decision. But it would have been a tough and challenging season for us against clubs who have thoughts that differ from the RFU.”

He added: “I’m disappointed because I really wanted to carry on and take the club to where it should be.

“We have had some good seasons and the signs were positive, with players developing under me. It was a good two or three years for the club.

“I’m disappointed not to finish the job, but equally the club is almost 90 years old and will be around for a long time to come. Slough has been successful and I’m sure they will continue to do that.

“The club will move forward because it’s a sleeping giant and the players deserve a lot of time, effort and energy. I’m sure they will be given that.

“Slough will continue to exist as a club and so will I.”

Brown continued: “There are opportunities out there for me, some of them local, but that will probably be tough given the circumstances.

“I’m not ruling out a return to the area, it’s where I grew up, and there will be no issue given time. But maybe it is best to let the dust settle.

“For me this is a part-time career and not a hobby. I have got exciting opportunities ahead of me, but it depends on what direction clubs want to go in and if their aspirations match mine.”