Following last year’s coaching suspension from the Rugby Football League, Mark Aston has walked away from Sheffield Eagles, a club he has been involved with for almost all his life.
Aston started his career with Sheffield in 1986 and after a brief spell with Featherstone Rovers, he returned and played on until his retirement in 2003.
During that time, he made over 350 appearances and he’d go one to make almost 200 as the club’s coach over various spells before being stood down and then suspended by the RFL.
An RFL Operational Rules Tribunal found him guilty of breaches in relation to playing players who had not received the necessary medical clearance.
Matty Marsh was the player in question with the playmaker not completing the return to play procedures yet being selected to face and then playing against Wigan Warriors in the Challenge Cup.
Aston was suspended for 18 months from coaching in rugby league or holding “any senior position within the sport which might involve any influence over team selection”.
The Eagles opted to make the 57-year-old their Commercial Director, a role that Aston has now resigned from.
Long-serving coach Mark Aston steps back from rugby league
Sheffield Eagles released a statement confirming that Aston will walk away from the role with the former coach then penning a lengthy letter to explain why.
The club confirmed: “Following a period of reflection after his withdrawal from the Sporting Resolutions Appeal against his suspension from coaching which was imposed by an RFL Operational Rules Tribunal last year, Mark Aston has informed Sheffield Eagles that he intends to stand down from the role of Commercial Director and will leave the club with immediate effect.”
Aston explained: “I have taken some time to consider my position and have made the decision that it is now the right time for me to step down from the club to spend more time with my family.
“Sheffield Eagles has been a huge part of my life for over 40 years. The last year has been a very challenging year for me & for my family, and whilst I am grateful that the club has supported me by creating the commercial role for me and, having been doing the role for just over six months, I have come to the realisation that it is now the right time for me to move on. In making my decision I would like to wish everyone currently at the club the best of luck for the future and thank them for their support of me over this past difficult 12 months.
“I would also like to thank everyone who has played a part in my career at Sheffield Eagles. There are far too many people to mention by name, but to everyone who has played, coached, worked, volunteered or sponsored the club, I am very grateful for your support over the years. I would also like to pay special thanks to my family for their love and support over the years and thank them for the sacrifices they have made to support my journey in Rugby League.”
Concluding his statement, Aston said: “Lastly I would like to thank the Sheffield Eagles fans, many of whom I now consider friends. It’s not always easy being a Sheffield Eagles supporter, but Eagles fans are the most loyal and dedicated fans in Rugby League and without the fans we would have no club and I encourage all the fans to continue to support the club as passionately as they do now. I’ll look forward to joining you in the stands!”
Statement On Behalf Of Mark Aston and Sheffield Eagles#OneClub
— Sheffield Eagles (@SheffieldEagles) August 15, 2025
