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Former New Zealand and Lions coach John Mitchell has been linked with a return to his former club Sale Sharks.
Sale are bottom of the Aviva Premiership after suffering six successive defeats.
It is their worst start to a Premiership campaign, and the club last month parted company with forwards coach Steve Scott.
According to the allblacks.com website, Sale have so far made no comment on a possible move for Mitchell, which was reported in the Sunday Times.
It is understood, though, that he could either slot in as a direct replacement for Scott or take a more wide-ranging coaching consultant's post.
Mitchell is a former Sale player and rugby director who left the club to work as part of Clive Woodward's England coaching team.
Mitchell returned to New Zealand in 2001 and coached the All Blacks at the 2003 World Cup tournament in Australia.
Mitchell is involved in legal action against his current employers. the Lions, having been suspended three months ago amid allegations from players that his regime was too harsh.
Press Association Sport understands that any move to Sale will not be finalised until after his legal action has been completed.
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Mitch...e-job-20121008
Poor Cameron Shepherd
Bet that's the last thing he would have expected when he packed his bags for England!
Do you mean what did he do wrong to deserve this or what did he do wrong at the Force?
Nothing in either case. Mitchell simply hated him for whatever reasons. Probably because he was one of those who put his name to the protest against a bully.
Yes I meant what did he do wrong to have Mitchell stalking him.
I don't think he's played for Sale yet. Will he ever get a gig now?
Mitchell has left Sale: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/20865428
John Mitchell has quit as Sale Sharks coach to return to South Africa.
The 48-year-old former All Blacks coach had only been in charge of the team for one month after taking over until the end of the season.
Steve Diamond, Bryan Redpath and Pete Anglesea will continue the club's battle against relegation.
A statement released by Sale's co-owner Brian Kennedy said Mitchell had left the Premiership club for "personal reasons which we respect".
Sale are bottom of the Premiership table, one point off London Irish, after securing their second win of the competition against Worcester on Friday.
Mitchell, who had a spell as player-coach with the Sharks during the late 1990s, had previously been helping the club on a part-time consultancy basis.
The club statement reads: "John was brought in on a consultancy basis with a view to the possibility of being employed in a longer term position within Sale Sharks.
"He has had to return to South Africa for personal reasons which we respect.
"We are grateful for his valuable and insightful contributions albeit for a shorter term than envisaged.
"Steve Diamond, Bryan Redpath and Pete Anglesea will continue to coach the side, implementing many of John's ideas, and building on last night's excellent performance."
Mitchell left his position as head coach of South African side Golden Lions in November, after being cleared of misconduct charges by the club.
He was officially named in charge of first-team affairs at the City of Salford Stadium shortly after and oversaw five Sharks fixtures - including a 62-0 demolition by Toulon in the Heineken Cup earlier this month.
But his penultimate game in charge saw Sale salvage a point against Wasps last weekend before beating Worcester - just their fourth victory in all competitions this season.
Mitchell's departure is the latest twist in off-field dramas at Sale this term after Redpath was removed from his position as director of rugby in October after overseeing their worst ever start to a Premiership season.
Chief executive Diamond then installed himself in charge of the first team , with Redpath demoted to backs coach, whilst he waited for Mitchell to resolve his dispute with the Lions.
While Mitchell's future in England was never intended to be long-term because he has an established family life back in South Africa, the brief nature of his tenure has come as a surprise.
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Cam might get more game time, as i don't think he's played for Sale while Mitch was head coach
"That's a shame:" - Cam Shepherd
yep,I'm sure Shep is really upset