Club owner Brian Kennedy has given Sale Sharks rugby director Kingsley Jones a ringing endorsement - despite just two victories this season.

Sale host fellow Guinness Premiership strugglers Gloucester on Friday night, having gone almost two months without a league win since they beat champions Leicester on the season's opening weekend.

The Sharks' other success was a one-point Heineken Cup verdict against Cardiff Blues two weeks ago.

But Jones, who succeeded Philippe Saint-Andre in the Sale hot-seat earlier this year, has an ally in Kennedy.

"I have been around in business for a few years, and made many mistakes," said Kennedy.

"But one thing I am good at (needless to say, far from infallible) is choosing leaders.

"I am convinced that in Kingsley Jones we have potentially the best director of rugby ever to grace Sale Sharks.

"Time will tell if I am right, but so far the disciplines, commitment and organisation of the rugby department way exceeds that of the past."

Jones sends out a side minus England internationals Mark Cueto and Mathew Tait against Gloucester, but Wales scrum-half Dwayne Peel starts as Sale target a win that would lift them from 10th to sixth.