EBBW Vale skipper Kristian Owen says he and his team-mates are 'totally devastated' at the sacking of Byron Hayward and his fellow coaches at Eugene Cross Park.

Owen and the players are due to meet new coach Alex Codling, the former once-capped England lock, for the first time at training tonight.

But Owen admitted ahead of that meeting with Codling, forced to retire from French club Montpelier with a serious back problem, "The coaches have been really badly treated and all the players are sickened.

"I'd heard a little rumour after the Pontypool game something like this might be happening but as professional as Byron, John (Williams) and Karl (Martin) are they said nothing to us and coached us on the Thursday as normal ahead of the Newport game. It was only after we'd won that game they said 'well done boys, that was a great performance, but sadly we've been sacked.'

"The three of them are very good coaches and will be sadly missed and I'm really gutted because they were friends as well.

"They were straight as a die with the players and with each other.

"And the timing of their going is ridiculous (after three wins in five games and Vale up to 12th place in the Welsh Premier Division) because I felt we had turned the corner.

"What has happened this season has never, ever been down to the coaches but down to the players and myself as captain not acquitting ourselves as well as expected.

"Nobody came to us as players or myself as captain to ask for a meeting to see what we thought.

"I think they have made a rash decision and that the coaches have been unfairly treated. I've spoken to some of the players and they feel the same."

But though Owen admitted there were some bad feelings he said there were none whatsoever against the new coach who had simply been asked to come in and do a job.

In addition to the coaches, club chief executive Phil Kingsley-Jones has also lost his position after only a short time in the post in place of Alun Harries.

It is understood the decision to replace the coaching team was taken soon after the 37-0 defeat at Llandovery on December 10 when Hayward was absent on Wales Under-19s duty.

Businessman Steve Hancock, who ran the club through the company Ebbw Vale Rugby, subsequently decided not to continue and former chief Marcus Russell was asked to return.

He could not be contacted in America, but it is understood he is reactivating his company Ebbw Vale Rugby Ltd. to run club affairs and has agreed to honour existing contracts.

He is expected to issue a Press release soon and also announce a backs coach to assist Codling.