Richard Hill has left his role as Bristol head coach three months earlier than planned with the club rock bottom in the Guinness Premiership.

The Guardian revealed that Hill was set to leave the club last Friday, when he did not travel with the team to Sale for a Premiership match which Bristol lost 32–13.

Hill, who had been in charge since 2003 and guided Bristol to promotion four years ago, was due to leave at the end of the season, but a miserable run of form has seen the cash-strapped club act early.

Hill's assistant Paul Hull will step in as his replacement, and he will begin his reign by planning for life in the First Division with Bristol adrift at the foot of the table with only nine points from 14 games.

"We had already agreed with Richard that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season but given the position we are in believe it to be more appropriate for Richard to leave now and for Paul Hull to take over as head coach," the Bristol chief executive Steve Gorvett said in a statement.

Hill took over at Bristol in 2003 after the club had been relegated. He guided them back to the Premiership in his second season in charge and then managed a third-placed finish a year later, but things have turned sour this season.

"Richard joined the club when we had just been relegated and quickly built a team for the first season in the First Division and obtained promotion the following season," said the Bristol chairman Chris Booy. "Particular highlights of Richard's time as head coach would be surviving our first year in the Guinness Premiership, finishing third the following season and then competing in the Heineken Cup. I would like to thank Richard for all that he has done for the club and wish him well for the future."