BRAEHEAD CLAN have announced they have parted company with head coach Ryan Finnerty.
The Canadian, Clan's longest-serving coach, was told his services would not be needed next season less than 24 hours after his team crashed out of the Elite League play off quarter finals.
Despite being seeded second, Braehead went down 6-1 over two legs to Dundee Stars, condemning the Glasgow side to a third knockout at this round on the trot.
Finnerty had overseen vast improvement at the Braehead Arena. Under his stewardship, Clan have won three Gardiner Conference titles and three years ago made it to the play-off finals weekend for the only time in their history.
Further to that, they were pipped to the league title by just one point two years ago before going close once again last term.
This year has been a different matter, however. A poor start to the season almost killed off any chance of title success within the first month or so of the campaign, while a sloppy defence proved their undoing in several occasions.
It is understood management at the club will now attempt to bring a replacement in as soon as possible to prepare for the new campaign.
A statement from Braehead said: "Ryan leaves us on very good terms, he has helped to raise the bar in terms of professionalism both on and off the ice, we thank him for all his hard work and commitment over the past four seasons and we wish him and his fiancé Emma all the very best in their future.
"The club will now focus on ensuring that we appoint a new Head Coach that will allow us to progress and to win silverware in the Elite Ice Hockey League."
Speaking to the Herald Sport in the wake of Sunday night's exit, Finnerty was asked about his future at the club.
The Canadian said: "It sucks. You wanted to win for the team, for the fans and the club. It just wasn't meant to be. It's a tough question so fresh off a defeat. We have a big summer ahead and we will sit down with the ownership.
"I've had, really, one bad year in the last three years. In the first year we were picking up a lot of scraps trying to be successful.
"For me personally, I know what I bring to the organisation and I want to come back.
"I'm definitely going to hold my head high. Whatever happens will happen and you will move on with life."
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