Deacon switched codes from rugby league to take up a role as attack coach at Sale having won four Super League Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups and the World Club Challenge during a glittering career as a player with both Bradford Bulls and Wigan Warriors. Sale expect to announce details of their coaching line-up for next season "in the coming days" and the club's director of rugby Alex Sanderson paid tribute to the departing Deacon. "For the last five years he's been the first person I call on a Sunday, " he said. "He's been the most diligent, the most hard-working and the most dependable head coach and for me on a personal level, he's been a rock."