Yet despite the heavy external scrutiny, McCall and his key players remained with the club, winning promotion at the first opportunity and claiming their sixth top-flight title in 2022-23, beating Sale Sharks at Twickenham.
The 2024-25 season was the first time the club had finished outside of the top four under McCall, aside from the year they were relegated and the subsequent season spent in the second tier.
Saracens finished sixth last term, the same position they occupy at the halfway stage this season.
“It is impossible to overstate the influence Mark provided to Saracens and for so long,” Sarries director Dominic Silvester said.
“Mark will be full on with Saracens until the end of this season.
“And it is wonderful for all at Saracens that after he steps back from being director of rugby at the end of the current season, we will continue to benefit from his wisdom from the 2026-27 season onwards as technical adviser and around the boardroom table.”
Venter, meanwhile, described his former London Irish team-mate McCall’s continued involvement at the club as being “key to me accepting the appointment”.
