FORMER Ebbw Vale head coach Patrick Horgan has rejoined Neath after leaving the Welsh All Blacks in May following their 34-13 defeat to Pontypridd in the Swalec Cup final.

The former Neath captain, Wales A scrum-half and Wales Under-20s coach will team up with ex-Steelmen boss and lock Neil Edwards on the coaching staff as the Gnoll outfit look to turn around their dwindling fortunes.

Once the dominant force in the Welsh rugby’s semi-professional club era, they have fallen on hard times and are currently bottom of the Principality Premiership, three points adrift of Swansea who are in 11th position.

Meanwhile, Neath’s former Ebbw Vale skills coach, player and Newport scrum-half Llyr Lane and the Gnoll side’s strength and conditioning coach, Wales 2005 Grand Slam winner Robin Sowden-Taylor have both left the side.

In a statement on their website, the club said: “We at Neath would like to thank all of the hard work that Llyr Lane and Robin Sowden-Taylor did while at the club.

“Both Llyr and Robin have left to concentrate on their business activities and we wish them all the best in their future.”

Neath have a good chance of turning their fortunes around in the Christmas period because they face fellow Premiership strugglers Bridgend and Aberavon at home in their next two encounters.

They take on the Ravens on Saturday before hosting the Wizards on Boxing Day.

Aberavon have also announced the departure of two management figures – forwards guru Paul Yardley and their fitness coach, ex-Great Britain rugby league player Kevin Ellis.

A statement on their website read: “Following a review of the coaching structure, both Paul Yardley and Kevin Ellis have left their positions with immediate effect.

“We would like to place on record our sincere thanks for their hard work during their time with the club and wish them well in the future.”

Aberavon are in tenth position in the league, just four points above Neath and face a tough trip away to high flying Cross Keys at Pandy Park on Saturday.

In a busy week of comings and goings, Newport could be set to replace their former attack coach Jon Bryant imminently after his exit from Rodney Parade last week.