FORMER coach Ian Davies is back at Worthing Raiders as their high performance manager.

Head coach Kieron Dawson and backs coach Nick Buoy revealed in The Argus on Wednesday they had stepped down after five years at the helm.

Davies has recently moved back to the area to take up a post at Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, after leaving his role as director of rugby at Championship side Cornish Pirates due to budget limitations.

He will form a coaching triumvirate with experienced duo Ben Coulson and Jody Levett, two former Raiders players. The coaching set-up has also be strengthened by the return of Paul Loader as manager and assistant coach of Raiders A team along with lead coach and former Raiders skipper James Arthur.

Dawson and Buoy stepped down this week due to increasing family and work demands and also to enable a new approach to rugby development and performance at the club which will be championed by Davies.

Raiders reached National One for the first time under the guidance of Dawson and Buoy and chairman Brian Vincent said: “The club are extremely grateful to “Daws” and Nick, for the hard work and commitment given through these years.

“They have helped the progression of both players and teams during their term and have coached and developed an exciting brand of rugby that the many supporters of the Raiders, have enjoyed and cheered at The Rugby Park, over the years.

“Both have young families and increasing work commitments outside of rugby at Worthing and following the Raiders securing National 2 level rugby for next season, the decision has been reached that the time is right for all to make changes. We wish Daws and Nick and their families, the very best for the future and we look forward to seeing them at the club in coming seasons.”

Davies brings a wealth of experience after leaving Worthing for Pirates in 2008-09 and taking over as the Cornish side’s director in 2012 from Chris Stirling. During his time as the forwards coach, Pirates won the British and Irish Cup in 2010 and reached the Championship play-off final in 2011. They repeated the feat the following year after he took charge.