Holcombe Hockey Club have stated that Nick Bandurak is to leave his position as the women’s team head coach.

The move, which is effective immediately, comes after the club decided against renewing a contract for the international forward to play for the men’s Premier Division team this season.

More: Home defeats for Holcombe’s Premier Division sides

A statement on the decision was issued on Monday from the committee of Holcombe Hockey Club, which came after a “meeting, careful consideration and much deliberation.”

The women’s team started their Premier Division campaign this season with back-to-back wins under Bandurak but have lost their last two - including a 1-0 home defeat to University of Birmingham on Saturday.

Holcombe have said that the club's sponsor has agreed to financially honour the remainder of Bandurak’s contract until it expires, or he takes a new post elsewhere.

As head coach of the women’s team, Bandurak - who has represented both England and Great Britain - led Holcombe to promotion back into the Premier Division in their 2023/24 campaign while also finishing as losing finalists in the England Hockey Tier One Championship cup final.

The club said that “he has established himself as a top-quality coach, overseeing the progression of junior players into the England National Age Group squads, among his other achievements.”

Their statement said: “The Club had taken the difficult decision not to exercise a contractual option to extend Nick’s term with us as a player for the Men's 1XI for the 2024/25 season.

“At the beginning of the season, Nick requested a one-year contract for his role as head coach of the Women’s 1XI which is scheduled to expire at the end of the current campaign. However, the decision has now been made to relieve Nick of his duties in the club's best interests.

“Holcombe Hockey Club remains committed to fostering a positive and supportive environment for all players and staff. We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Nick for his contributions and dedication during his time with the Club and wish him every success in his future endeavours.”

Bandurak scored more than 200 goals for Holcombe and played at the 2023 World Cup and 2023 EuroHockey Championships while he also helped GB qualify for Paris 2024.

When the decision was announced that he’d be leaving the men’s set-up, Bandurak posted on X: “Absolutely gutted to be removed from my team and my club against my will.”