Bath Rugby head coach Mike Ford has described Gary Gold's departure from the club earlier this week as "regrettable".
South African Gold left his position as director of rugby on Monday, with a statement from the club saying the split was due to difference of opinion on how to define his role.
The statement released on Friday read: "After the last few months, it became clear that the club and Gary were not able to agree on how to define the role of director of rugby."
Gold's departure came six months after his position was changed from head coach. Ford, who also worked with Gold at Newcastle Falcons before the duo arrived at The Rec ahead of the 2012-13 season, stepped up to fill the role.
Speaking after Saturday's 63-0 Amlin Cup win over Italian side Mogliano, Ford said: "We teamed up at Newcastle. We did well together there as a partnership and we've done well together at Bath. It's regrettable that this has arisen.
"I can't really say anything else at this stage. He's a good friend of mine and it's just regrettable that these things happen."
Gold's positional change arose during a restructure of the club's rugby department over the summer.
The former Springboks assistant boss' new remit saw him oversee recruitment and wage-cap management, as well as the medical and strength and conditioning departments and the Academy, while Ford assumed responsibility for the day-to-day preparation of the first team.
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