Rob Baxter: Exeter boss confident he can move club forward after coaching changes

Baxter refused to be drawn deeper on the reasons why Hunter and Hepher were suspended – last week chairman Tony Rowe said there had been a “clear disconnect” between the players and coaches.

The 54-year-old Baxter would also not discuss if Hepher would still take a role helping Exeter’s academy players transition to the first team – a job he was due to take in the summer having been demoted as head coach in favour of Hunter in March.

The ousting of the duo followed Exeter’s decision to part with defence coach Omar Mouneimne in October as the club try to overcome their worst-ever season since promotion to the top flight in 2010.

They are second from bottom having won just three games all season and lost all four of their European Champions Cup matches, including a 69-17 defeat by Bordeaux – a club record continental loss.

Baxter said the team’s attitude must change as they prepare to host champions Northampton on Sunday, eight days after Saints beat Leinster in Dublin in the Champions Cup.

“I think almost without realising it our expectations have dropped to a relatively low level,” Baxter added.

“We’ve almost not realised that actually our expectations have dropped quite low.

“We’re a Premiership rugby club who had three seasons once where we lost one home Premiership game.

“Our expectations have got to change of ourselves and that will help us be a better team straight away, both in training and in playing.”