The 41-year-old former county prop, once rated the best scrummaging tight head in Yorkshire, made the shock decision after he was unable to receive a positive response as to how much involvement he would have in team matters next season.

Szabo added that he believes officials at Ovenden Park intimated that his services would not be required leaving his position untenable.

He said that he felt disappointed as he had been willing to pledge his immediate future to the club and wanted to stay on and help player development as Halifax begin their preparations for life back in National Three (North) next season.

Szabo, who also earned international honours for Hungary during a long and distinguished career, was appointed to assist head coach Rhys Morgan last summer.

He has always admitted to a deep affinity for Halifax and turned down offers from other clubs to return to Ovenden Park before this season began.

Lawrence Dallaglio is free to play for Wasps once more after the Rugby Football Union backdated a one-week ban on the former England captain to include his punishment by Wasps.

Dallaglio was suspended by the London club for a week for hitting former England colleague Julian White in the EDF Energy Cup semi-final defeat to Leicester Tigers on March 22.

A disciplinary panel chaired by Judge Jeff Blackett deemed that sanction to be satisfactory after Dallaglio, who retires at the end of the season, pleaded guilty to a breach of Law 10.4(a) of the International Rugby Union code.

De Wet Barry of Harlequins has been let off without a ban after being shown a red card in the 15-9 win over Newcastle at the weekend.

Leicester's Seru Rabeni has been hit with a 14-week suspension after being found guilty of making illegal contact with the eyes of Saracens' hooker Andy Kyriacou.