IN a week where Tony Smith committed his future to Warrington Wolves until 2016 it was also announced the five-year partnership of his first-team coaches is to be broken up.

Smith has signed a one-year extension to his current deal, but first-team coaches Willie Poching and Richard Marshall will leave at the end of the campaign.

They will be replaced by former Wakefield, Hull FC and France head coach Richard Agar in November.

“He’ll bring different ideas, different views,” said Smith. “Sometimes there needs to be a change over in the staff from time to time.”

Smith agreed to a contract extension after discussions about the club’s future with owner Simon Moran.

“We’ve been talking about it for a little while,” he added. “We talk from time to time about planning issues for our club’s future and that involves the coach and coaching plans.

“It’s easy for Simon to make decisions on some players regardless of the length of time the coach is there, but sometimes not.

“I’ve been quite vocal in the past about who I’m working for and all those things are massively important.”

Poching and Marshall, who helped oversee two Challenge Cup triumphs, a League Leaders’ shield and two Grand Final appearances, will leave by mutual consent.

“We came up with that together,” explained Smith. “They know the timing is right for them and the timing is right for us as well.

“Both have been fantastic about it in terms of they’re ready to go and pursue their next challenge. They’re currently in pursuit of their next position and we’re happy to help them along the way.”

For the moment, focus remains on Wolves’ 2014 ambitions, continuing with a trip to Hull KR tomorrow, Friday, as they defend a sequence of five wins capped by a Challenge Cup victory at Bradford which has earned a semi-final clash with Leeds Rhinos at St Helens’ Langtree Park on Saturday, August 9, kick off 2.30pm.

Wolves’ squad will be depleted at the KC Lightstream Stadium tomorrow.

Already without Ben Westwood, Trent Waterhouse, Paul Wood and James Laithwaite, injuries from the Bradford win see Michael Monaghan sidelined for at least a month with a torn calf, while Richie Myler (ankle) will miss several weeks.

Anthony England is a doubt to face Hull KR despite being named in the 19-man squad.

Academy forwards Joe Philbin and George King, both 19, are also named in Wolves’ 19-man squad.