League: Cleary replaces Kemp as Warriors coach

Tony Kemp

Tony Kemp was today replaced by his assistant Ivan Cleary as coach of the Warriors.

Warriors management also confirmed football development manager John Ackland will be the new assistant coach while Kevin Campion completes the coaching team as skills coach.

Kemp had a year remaining on his contract.

Kemp, who was assistant coach when former mentor Daniel Anderson stood aside midway through last year, was a casualty of the club's end-of-season review, Warriors chairman Maurice Kidd said.

"As a result of the review we have put in place a structure which best suits the club's needs to have us performing consistently at the highest level," Kidd said.

"With Ivan as head coach, supported by John, this is the structure to take us forward."

Kemp was always in a precarious position when the Warriors failed to make the NRL playoffs this year.

The Warriors finished 11th with 10 wins and 14 losses -- nine were by 10 points or less. They lost another two by 12, one by 14 and two by 18 -- their worst deficit of the year.

In 2004 they finished second to last out of the 15 teams.

Cleary was a former Warriors fullback for three seasons and was influential in the Warrior's golden run in 2002 when they claimed the minor premiership, but were beaten in the grand final.

He became assistant coach to Kemp this year.

- NZPA