Tony Smith: Hull FC head coach departs after 18 months in charge

Tony Smith had overseen just one win from seven Super League games so far this season

Hull FC head coach Tony Smith has left the club after a poor start to the Super League season.

The vastly experienced Australian took over at the MKM Stadium in September 2022 after a spell at cross-city rivals Hull KR.

They won 10 of 27 games last season to finish 10th and have lost six of their seven league games so far this year.

Assistant Stanley Gene has also exited, with Simon Grix and Francis Cummins placed in charge on an interim basis.

Chairman Adam Pearson told the club website: "On behalf of everyone associated with Hull FC, I would like to thank Tony and Stan for their contribution to the club during their time with the first team.

"They have worked tirelessly and it is disappointing to have had to come to this decision, but it is one I feel is right at this time."

The Black and Whites are not in action until 19 April when they travel to St Helens, after being knocked out of the Challenge Cup with a 50-6 hammering by Huddersfield in the last 16.

The Giants also beat them 56-22 on Saturday in what proved to be Smith's final game in charge.

The 57-year-old has had spells with Huddersfield, Leeds, Warrington and both Hull sides across almost 23 years of coaching in Super League.

"It is disappointing not to see the job through which was always going to be a challenging project and I was relishing the opportunity to see it through," Smith said.

Their sole win this season came with a 28-24 success over winless London Broncos last month.

'Smith could not find winning formula at Hull FC' - analysis

BBC Sport's Matt Newsum

Tony Smith's exit comes after a frankly miserable run of form to start 2024, in which they have shipped points all too freely and lacked the cutting edge in attack. Not a great combination.

Smith has been a serial winner throughout his career with Huddersfield, Leeds, Warrington and even Great Britain but that experience has not brought him a winning formula at Hull.

He has been unable to settle on a decisive halves pairing, discipline has been poor with key forwards Ligi Sao and Franklin Pele banned for considerable stints and there have also been rumblings of player dissatisfaction off the field - notably Aussie full-back Tex Hoy of late.

Hull is a club with massive potential in terms of infrastructure, there are resources and there is a passionate fanbase. But this is not a new situation - just ask Peter Gentle, Lee Radford (who actually did have some success) and Brett Hodgson who all came before Smith.