CONFUSION surrounds the future of Sale Sharks head of social media after she apologised for abusing fans on Facebook.

Initial reports said he had been disciplined and had kept her job but the club yesterday issued a statement saying she has been sacked.

Holleh Nowrouz, 26, labelled some supporters ‘absolute ****wits’ on the social networking site.

The post was a reaction to fans who had complained that club officials had concentrated more on the internet than training its players.

According to some reports, she wrote on her personal Facebook page: ‘Oh the joys of managing a sport club’s social media when we’ve lost the last 7 home games.

“To the Sale Sharks fans, who comment about the club needing to spend less time blogging and tweeting and more time coaching, the staff who create content for the website and social media platforms, are not the same members of staff who coach the team. You absolute ****wits’.

A club statement posted on an internet message board said: “Holleh Nowrouz deeply regrets the posting she made on her personal Facebook page at the end of October.

“Disciplinary action has been taken and the matter has been dealt with internally and both Sale Sharks and Holleh Nowrouz would like to apologise to supporters of Sale Sharks for causing unnecessary distress.”

But yesterday, Christmas Eve, Dave Swanton, Sharks head of media issued a statement saying Ms Nowrouz had been removed from her post.

He said: Following a stringent disciplinary review, Sale Sharks has announced that Holleh Nowrouz, has been dismissed from her role with immediate effect.

“The Club's CEO Steve Diamond conducted the review in the aftermath of adverse comments made by Ms Nowrouz towards a section of the club's fans on a personal social networking site.”

Commenting on the announcement, Steve Diamond said “As a club, we have always been proud of the backing we receive from our supporters through thick and thin over our 151 year history.

“At this crucial time for the club Holleh's comments, though private, just overstepped the mark and left her position untenable.”