London Welsh have parted ways with head coach Justin Burnell and confirmed Rowland Phillips will take charge of team affairs . Former Wales back-rower and defence coach Phillips joined Welsh 's staff in 2014 and is now promoted to the main role at the Aviva Premiership 's bottom club . Welsh 's 74-19 defeat by Exeter Chiefs on March 7 made it 17 losses from as many games , and became the final straw for Burnell , who was thanked for his efforts including their promotion push in 2013-14 . London Welsh have parted ways with head coach Justin Burnell ( pictured ) Phillips insists he can engineer a positive end to the current campaign , telling the club 's website : 'It 's been a very tough season in the Premiership trying to play with a squad built on an uneven financial playing field . 'But the boys are determined to rescue something from this season . ' Phillips , who also played rugby league for both Wales and Great Britain , had a spell as a player for London Welsh in 1997 and his coaching experience includes a spell at Ospreys and in Italy with Viadana and Aironi . Welsh chairman Bleddyn Phillips wished Burnell well for the future , adding : 'As Chairman , I would like to add my sincere thanks and very best wishes to Justin and his family for the future . 'The harsh reality is that the club has had a mountain to climb in terms of now well documented challenges on the financial and structural regime presently in place in Premiership rugby which any coach or club would , to put it mildly , find daunting . ' Welsh 's 74-19 defeat to Exeter Chiefs on made it 17 losses from as many games .
London Welsh have parted company with head coach Justin Welsh . Rowland Phillips has been confirmed as Burnell 's replacement . The club announced on Monday that they had agreed a deal to release the former England hooker from his contract and he will join Super League side Salford Red Devils for next season.