Matt Maudsley has quit as Oxford Harlequins' director of rugby after their dismal start to the season.

Former Chinnor coach John Brodley will take over for the rest of a campaign, which has seen them lose all five South West 1 matches so far.

Quins chairman Kevin Johnson said Maudsley's decision was for "personal reasons" and thanked him for his huge contribution to the club.

Maudsley, a former Henley winger, joined Quins as a player-coach in 2001, leading them to successive promotions in 2002 and 2003.

Quins are the longest serving club in the division, but have struggled this season.

Johnson said: "It is a decision he has made for personal reasons. It was a mutual thing in the end.

"We just want to thank him for all he has done.

"He has been the single biggest influence in taking us to where we are.

"I was disappointed with his decision in many ways, but it has been a challenging start to the season."

"There has been pressure on all sides and our recruits haven't arrived yet."

For the past two years Brodley, 54, has been looking after Oxford RFC as part of the Oxford Rugby Partnership link with Quins.

This will be the fifth senior Oxfordshire side he has coached, following spells Banbury, Bicester, Chinnor and then Oxford.

"My priority is to get Quins as high up the league as possible and retain the Oxfordshire Cup," he said.

"Matt has left a tremendous legacy behind the scenes. But he has not been able to sustain the playing standard on the field this season.

"A lot of players left at the end of last season, and have not been replaced by those of similar quality.

"I'll try to use my large network of contacts to bolster the quality at the club."

Maudsley declined to comment at this stage.

Brodley intends to honour his commitment with Oxford tomorrow for their Berks Bucks & Oxon Premier Division game at Swindon College. Quins, who visit to Bracknell in the first round of the EDF Energy National Trophy, will be looked after by forwards coach John Gunter and Tony Edney.

Hooker Dave Needham misses the Bracknell tie with a leg injury.

Also sidelined are flanker Ferdi Gerber and Kenny Sewell, whose shoulder injury should have recovered by next week.