91Èȱ¬

Sale Sharks chief executive Steve Diamond has taken charge of first-team affairs for the rest of the season after Bryan Redpath was removed from his position as director of rugby.

Ex-New Zealand coach John Mitchell, who had been working as a consultant with Sale, has accepted a full-time role.

Diamond told 91Èȱ¬ Radio 5 live: "The whole fabric of the club is in danger of going into oblivion.

"The club's 150 years old and we don't want it going out of the Premiership."

Former Gloucester coach Redpath, who was appointed as director of rugby on a four-year contract in June, has been offered the chance to remain at Sale as backs coach, a role Diamond expects him to accept.

The Sharks have made their worst start to a Premiership season, losing their first seven matches.

"There's only 22 games and we've lost a third of those," Diamond said.

"Newcastle [who were relegated last season] have proved in the past that if you leave decisions to make changes - and that's what we're looking to do, make changes, not dismissals - it's important for the survival of the club.

"We've got to a point where we need to start turning the corner. We had to make the decision quickly, which is more of a reshuffle than anything else. Hopefully Bryan will accept that and we'll move forward."

Diamond took control of first-team affairs in the final weeks of last season following the departure of Tony Hanks in March and guided Sale to a final position of sixth in the table to book a place in the Heineken Cup.

"The legacy that Bryan took over was in reasonable condition, and maybe I've been negligent in not being around as much," added Diamond.

"My DNA was written all over the team and maybe I should have been involved a bit more than I have been.

"I take a lot of responsibility. I put Bryan Redpath into that role and I put the team together.

"The team is going to be run by myself from now on and we want Bryan to be part of us in the skill sets that he shows on a regular basis.

"We think he is very valuable in the club. He's got a lot of experience, he fits into our coaching team and the positivity of the club moving forward. We don't want to see him leave.

"It is a sideways move and it will be for the benefit of the team. He is definitely keen to stay. He is very positive about the situation."

Diamond's first match in charge is against second-from-bottom London Irish at Salford City Stadium on Friday.