Andy Robinson: Bristol suspension 'a disgrace', says Paul Grayson

Bristol's treatment of director of rugby Andy Robinson is "a disgrace", says ex-England fly-half Paul Grayson.

The Premiership strugglers, who have lost all seven of their league games this term, suspended Robinson on Thursday, pending a performance review.

Kicking coach Mark Tainton was named as acting head coach.

"I think Andy Robinson deserves far more credit than that for what he's done for Bristol and in the game," Grayson told BBC Radio 5 live.

"To play it out so publically, personally leaves a bad taste in my mouth."

Former England and Scotland head coach Robinson was appointed in 2013 and led Bristol back to the top flight in May after a seven-year absence.

Andy Robinson's Bristol have conceded 253 points in their first seven league games since promotion

Since an encouraging 21-19 loss to Harlequins at Twickenham on the opening day of the season, they have lost a further eight consecutive matches in all competitions.

"Barring their first game against Harlequins where they lost narrowly, they will not be happy with what they've produced in the subsequent six (league) games," Grayson said.

"What I'm not a fan of is conducting business in public. I'm not sure where this word suspended has come from.

"What will the results of it be? Well, that's entirely up to Bristol if they decide that they want to move Andy on, fine then pay off his contract and move him on.

"But for him to be sitting there now with everything in the papers - I think it's a disgrace to be honest."

Robinson, 52, signed a new three-year contract with Bristol in August.

They are bottom of the Premiership table with just two losing-bonus points so far, seven points below 11th-placed Worcester.

'I want smiling faces again'

Acting head coach Tainton will not be in charge of Bristol's Anglo-Welsh Cup trip to Worcester on Friday, with academy coach Sean Marsden taking the reins instead.

Tainton, the club's all-time record points scorer, has said he is uncertain how long he will be in the role.

"The first thing I want the team to do is start enjoying training again and see some smiling faces on the training field," Tainton told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Once we get that they'll start to express themselves and take that onto the playing field."