DANNY THOMAS has become the new head coach of Barnstaple after leaving Plymouth Albion.

The 34-year-old, Albion's all-time league appearance record holder, has been a player-coach at Brickfields for the last two seasons after spending the 2007/08 campaign coaching Taunton.

But he made just two brief replacement appearances last term for Albion and the financially struggling club have not been in a position to offer him a sole coaching role.

Instead Thomas has decided to return to Barnstaple — the club where he started his rugby career.

Albion's chairman of rugby Graham Dawe admitted in an ideal world he would have liked Thomas to have stayed at Brickfields.

"It is sad he is not staying at Plymouth Albion, but it has come down to a funding issue and we've had to cut our cloth accordingly," said Dawe. "Hopefully, Danny enjoyed his time at Albion and he is always welcome back.

Dawe added: "Danny was doing an important job. He was coaching our forwards and the Warriors, and also coaching the university."

Thomas, who is set combine his part-time post at Barnstaple with another job, added: "I am about to get married and it is time to move on from Albion, get a proper job and some financial security.

"It is going to be a challenge going back to Barnstaple, but one I am looking forward to. I have worked with some great coaches - Graham Dawe and John Roberts - and learned a lot from them."

With Albion having to cut their budget by a third this summer it is likely any new coaches coming into the club will also be regular players.

Nat Saumi was Albion's backs coach last season and his future at the club is also in doubt. Like with Thomas, Albion have so far not been in a position to offer the Fijian a new coaching contract, but Dawe remains optimistic that issue can be resoleved and Saumi will return to Brickfields for the 2010/11 season. "Hopefully, we will see Nat back after the summer," said Dawe.