Hull suspend back-room veteran Crooks pending internal inquiry

(GETTY IMAGES)

Hull have suffered a double disruption to their pre-season training, with the suspension of one of their longest-serving back-room men and an injury to a key player.

Steve Crooks, who has played and coached both Hull and Hull KR, has been stood down from his job as player performance manager, which he has filled for the last 10 years, while an unspecified internal matter is investigated.

The club have declined to give any details of the allegations against him. The club's loose forward or stand-off Danny Washbrook could miss the start of the season after damaging knee ligaments. City rivals Hull KR have abandoned plans for a warm-weather training camp in Dubai to cut costs.

"We are very conscious of the economic downturn," said Rovers' chief executive, Paul Blanchard.