The club yesterday appointed Andy Key as director of rugby with his Welford Road colleague Neil Back recruited as head coach, ending a seven-week search for a replacement for Stuart Lancaster.

Back was technical director and defence coach at Leicester and one of the candidates to become the Tigers' new director of rugby, but withdrew from the race in favour of continuing his coaching education in National One.

"I have had some fantastic times at Leicester and it was a big decision to take myself out of the application process for director of rugby and end my long association with the club," said Back, who helped England win the World Cup in 2003.

"However, I am excited about coming to Leeds Carnegie and joining the fight to regain our place in the Guinness Premiership.

"Having spoken with Stuart Lancaster, I am aware of the massive challenge that faces us next season; every team will want to beat Leeds and plenty will believe that this is their year to try to gain promotion.

"However, Andy and I are excited about getting down to work with the coaching staff and players to begin our preparations for the challenges ahead."

Key worked under Dean Richards and outgoing director of rugby Marcelo Loffredo at Welford Road.

He had two spells as a player with Leicester and also played for Bedford and Nottingham.

He said: "Neil and I recognise the situation that the club finds itself and we want to put Leeds Carnegie back in the Guinness Premiership next year.

"We both come from a background of success, but we are not naïve to the challenges that face us in National One.

"As outsiders we can see that Leeds are an established club and, although they fell short last season, they have a squad and backroom staff who are hugely enthusiastic and committed."

Leeds chief executive Gary Hetherington said: "Over the past 12 years, the club has changed remarkably and now the challenge for Andy and Neil is to take us forward to the next level.

"The first immediate aim is to return to the Guinness Premiership next season."