Whitehaven's board of directors will meet players tonight at the Recreation Ground in the wake of James Coyle’s sacking.

First and foremost will be the task of appointing a caretaker ahead of Sunday’s massive derby game with Workington at the Zebra Claims Stadium.

With Gary Broadbent quitting after Coyle’s sacking it’s likely that two of the senior players will be asked to prepare the team for the clash with Town.

The news of Coyle’s departure was announced in a short statement from the club, issued by general manager Amanda Hewer.

It read: “Unfortunately the board of directors have decided that, due to recent circumstances, we are left with no option but to relieve the head coach of his duties, with immediate effect.

“We wish James all the best in the future.”

Bottom of the Championship, and with only five games to save themselves from relegation, Haven are two points adrift and four points from safety – in reality five as they have the worst points differential in the league.

Whitehaven had lost 10 games in a row, along with Swinton who have one win in 10 matches, the two worst recent form lines in the competition.

But Coyle, who took over at the start of last season, says he still felt Whitehaven had a chance of saving themselves.

“I’m very disappointed the way it has ended. I wanted to see it through and I felt we still had a chance of staying-up,” said Coyle.

“We have played the two hardest fixtures in the seven-match Shield programme and I think it’s fair to say we were concentrating on the last five which we have a good chance in.

“It’s been a tough season because of the amount of injuries we have suffered. There have been several occasions when the physio has virtually picked the team!

“We have been desperately unlucky in matches, losing points to late scores notably against Batley, Halifax and Workington,” he added.

Coyle announced several weeks ago that he was standing down at the end of the season because of added family and business commitments.

Whitehaven advertised for a coach, had six applicants and held informal talks with two of them.

But only last week, chairman Tommy Todd said that they would not be making a decision on the new coach until the end of the season, when they knew where the team would be playing next year.