The Hobart Hurricanes will have a new man at the helm in BBL|07 after Cricket Tasmania opted not to renew Damien Wright's contract.

The 41-year-old led the Hurricanes to the decider of BBL|03 in 2014, as well as the finals of the (now-defunct) Champions League later that year.

But Hobart have been absent from the finals for the past three KFC Big Bash League seasons and finished seventh with a 3-5 win-loss record this summer.

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Wright, a paceman for Tasmania and Victoria in his playing days, signed a one-year deal with the Hurricanes last April and said at the time there was “no doubt we were disappointed with our performance last season and the hunger is there for success in BBL|06 to give back to our loyal members and fans.”

Cricket Tasmania chairman Andrew Gaggin praised Wright for his efforts during his four seasons in charge.

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“Damien’s time as coach was highlighted by making the Big Bash final in 2013 and a semi-final berth in the Champions League in India in 2014,” Gaggin said.

“However, the club’s on-field performance over the past couple of years has been below expectations and the board has decided to move forward with a coaching structure that is separate from the Tasmanian Tigers in the future.

“Damien will continue as senior assistant coach of the Tasmanian Tigers and the board look forward to working with him in that role.

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“On behalf of the Cricket Tasmania Board, management and staff, members and fans I want to thank Damien for his enthusiasm, engagement and overall service to the Hobart Hurricanes.”

The Cricket Tasmania board will “continue to assess all aspects of the BBL Hobart Hurricanes including the coaching structures moving forward, performance, list management and recruitment of overseas players.”

The highlight for the Hurricanes during their BBL|06 campaign was a memorable win over the Melbourne Renegades on January 12.

Young batsman Ben McDermott, who replaced Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara for the last three games, blazed a match-winning 114 from 52 balls at Etihad Stadium, with his innings including nine sixes and eight boundaries.

The Hurricanes also tasted victory against the Adelaide Strikers and finalist Sydney Sixers.

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Big things were expected of import Sangakkara, but he has made just 173 runs at 14.41 from 13 matches in his two seasons with Hobart.

Speaking after the Hurricanes loss to the Thunder on January 8, Wright said axing Sanagakkara – Test cricket’s fifth-highest run scorer of all-time – was the hardest decision he’s ever had to make.

“It was really difficult, it was comfortably the hardest thing I’ve had to do,” Wright told cricket.com.au.

“Only because of the quality person that he is, he’s a quality man and a wonderful bloke to have around. He’d be the first to admit it hasn’t gone to plan, in regards to of scoring a lot of runs for us.

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“I was going over things in my head (before telling Sangakkara he’d been dropped) and about what to say.

“I slept on it and I went and met him the next day, and he showed the quality of person he is to sit there and totally understand where we were coming from.

“You could feel he probably knew it was coming. He was pretty apologetic that he hasn’t gone as well he would have liked it.

“Afterwards, I just thought, ‘he’s one of the best blokes I’ve ever had the experience of working with’.”

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Decorated England paceman Stuart Broad played all eight matches in his first season with the Hurricanes, returning eight wickets.

George Bailey (247 runs) and Tim Paine (227) were the leading performers with the bat, while Dan Christian grabbed nine wickets.