Clayton Rugby League club have dispensed with the services of Paul Gill in a surprise move which has left the colourful long-serving coach fuming.

The Villagers have ended a 30-year-old partnership that has seen Gill guide the club to nine Bradford Cup finals, six Pennine Presid-ents Cup finals, two Pennine Premier Division Championship titles and a Yorkshire County Cup final. He played full back as a professional at Leeds and also coached the Yorkshire County side and the Bradford Inter-Town team that won the last BARLA title.

Clayton looked to be on course for a revival following the successful move to Lidget Green Cricket Club and had a good season in Division One following the early retirement of a number of influential players and an horrendous run of injuries.

Gill -who is regarded as one of the finest coaches on the amateur scene - said: "I was informed by the club that I would not be required as coach next season. This came completely out of the blue and I have not even been given a chance to put my points of view after 30 years service as a player and then as head coach.

"I have been told that the decision was made at a number of meetings behind closed doors and I feel that I have been badly let down by people that I trusted."

Gill is unlikely to be lost to the amateur scene and is bound to be quickly snapped up for the forthcoming season with a number of local clubs already in line for his services.