THE IAN MILLWARD SAGA Story so far... 4 May: Saints suspend Millward 7 May: Saints fans protest 10 May: Millward sacked 11 May: Hanley defends sacking

Australian Millward, 44, was sacked for gross misconduct on Tuesday, but he vowed to fight the decision.

However, Saints officials claimed that he did not raise any new or additional matters at Thursday's hearing.

"It is a great pity that Ian's highly-successful period as head coach has ended in this manner," said St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus.

"I would like to thank him for his great contribution to the success of the Saints during the last five years and wish him every success in his future career.

"We must now look to recruit a new head coach as a matter of urgency."

I admit I had words with Gina but it was just an emotional thing on the night Ian Millward

Millward claims he was put under "extreme pressure" to quit as St Helens coach before eventually being sacked.

He rejected an offer of a pay-off, insisting he would fight the charges levelled against him.

"I was told, if I didn't sign the document before four o'clock, a press release containing allegations against me would be published," he said.

"I felt extreme pressure over that. Now I just want to clear my name and protect my reputation."

Three incidents were cited by Saints for Millward's sacking.

The club claim Millward used foul language to a Saints employee, who subsequently tendered his resignation.

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He was said to have also verbally abused Warrington press officer Gina Coldrick and to have sworn at a fourth official at the Super League game between St Helens and Bradford on Easter Monday.

Millward admitted the incidents had occurred but said he had apologised to both press officers and that he thought the matters had been resolved satisfactorily.

St Helens claim there are other, potentially more serious, incidents but both Millward and his solicitor, Richard Cramer, deny any knowledge of them.

Millward admitted he would have handled the Warrington incident differently in hindsight but claimed that Coldrick had accepted his apology and that he considered the matter closed.

"I didn't want to do the press conference in the stand because it was open and people had been drinking so I went on the pitch to do it," he said.

It's my job to protect the interests of the club to prevent anyone invading it Ian Millward

"I admit I had words with Gina but it was just an emotional thing on the night. I did ring her up and apologised. She was very, very understanding and didn't want it to go any further."

He claimed the letter of complaint from Warrington chairman Doug Hoyle was not brought to his attention by Saints until 3 May, two months after the incident.

Millward also defended his actions in haranguing Saints press officer Alex Turner for allowing Wigan winger Brian Carney to witness a behind-closed-doors training session.

"It was our final session where we run through the game plan and the players want privacy," said Millward.

"It's my job to protect the interests of the club to prevent anyone invading it.

"My players would think I'm a weak person if I hadn't done that and I would have lost credibility with them.

"I explained to the media person the rights and wrongs and I thought it had been resolved peacefully on the phone."