Leicester Tigers chairman Peter Tom says Marcelo Loffreda was sacked as coach because the quality of rugby being produced was not good enough.

The Argentine guided the club to two finals, but they lost both the EDF Energy Cup and the Premiership, and he was sacked after six months in charge.

"We accept we have to lose now and again," Tom told East Midlands Today.

"But it is the manner in which we have lost and there have been concerns as to why we've performed they way we have."

Tom added: "We have huge aspirations at the Tigers and there were things that we felt weren't quite going as they should do.

Sadly, this just hasn't worked out for us Peter Tom

"We carried out a review, we spoke to the senior players, the other coaches and the board and came to the conclusion it was in the best interests we terminated Marcelo's contract.

"We have been very inconsistent and the manner in which we have lost has been the issue that has concerned us all."

Loffreda only moved to Welford Road at the end of the 2007 World Cup.

Tom admitted it was a tough decision to take and was sorry things had not worked out.

"He was obviously very disappointed," Tom said. "These things are not very nice to do but he took it as a gentlemen.

"Sometimes, despite all your best intentions things go wrong, and sadly this just hasn't worked out for us."