EBBW Vale chairman Jonathon Jones has lauded Jason Strange for spearheading the Steelmen's return from the dark days of relegation to being a thriving club challenging for honours.

The head coach has left the club, as well as his job at Ebbw Fawr Learning Community, to take up a full-time role as skills coach with the Welsh Rugby Union.

Strange enjoyed a remarkable stint at Eugene Cross Park after joining as Neil Edwards' right hand man five seasons ago when the pair picked up the pieces after a grim relegation.

The former fly-half helped them win four titles (two in Division One East, two in the Championship), claim some memorable Principality Premiership scalps in the Swalec Cup and was named coach of the year for Ebbw's remarkable return to the top flight in which they finished as runners-up to Pontypridd.

But Jones says that Strange's impact on the club runs much deeper than on-field success.

"The backbone of this continued progress has been creating an environment where players, coaches and officials have been continually challenged to improve their performance," said the chairman.

"Jason has been the driving force and key influencer in this change and has ensured that the culture at the club and foundations built in the last five years will enable his successors to inherit an excellent playing and coaching group.

"The time and effort that Jason has put into not only the playing side but its wider relationship with schools, colleges and local clubs has ensured that rugby is again growing within the Bleanau Gwent community with Ebbw Vale providing a route to top class semi-professional and professional rugby for the aspirational players within the community.

"This ability to see the full picture of rugby within the community and the club's important role in this is a further legacy that those remaining at Eugene Cross Park must pick up."

Vale expect to rubber-stamp the successor to Strange, whose backroom staff including assistants Ceri Jones and Nick Wakley are staying on, in the coming days.