Salford to step up hunt for new coach after McRae exit

Salford will intensify their hunt for a new coach, following confirmation that Shaun McRae will not be returning to the job. McRae has been on sick leave with a stress-related illness for the last two months.

"This mutual agreement allows both the club and myself to move on in a fresh direction," said the experienced Australian, who previously coached St Helens, Gateshead and Hull.

Candidates to succeed him include Phil Veivers, who is in the job on a caretaker basis. Leigh's Ian Millward could be tempted by a return to Super League, while Salford have shown interest in the South Sydney assistant coach, Kurt Wrigley. Another theory is that the former Wigan favourite, Adrian Lam, who has held a number of assistant's jobs in the NRL, could return to Britain.

"The club feel it is time for a change and we need to move on," said the City Reds' chief executive, Dave Tarry. "We anticipate a high-calibre appointment that will quickly push the club on."

Veivers remains in charge for today's trip to Harlequins, for which they need to do something about a defence that leaked 112 points in two games over Easter. Quins have Chad Randall captaining them in place of the injured Rob Purdham and Lee Mitchell making his home debut on loan from Warrington.

Catalan Dragons' unbeaten streak will come under heavy pressure today from Huddersfield. The Giants beat Salford with plenty to spare, despite being without a raft of first-choice players. They are able to recall Leroy Cudjoe, Lee Gilmour, Luke Robinson, Larne Patrick and Graeme Horne to their squad.