Jim Harbaugh has admitted that there was some discord between him and hierarchy at the San Francisco 49ers which culminated in his exit from the club.

The 51-year-old parted company with the 49ers at the end of the 2014 season, ending his four-year tenure at the Bay Area as the club missed out on the playoffs for the first time in his reign.

Reports suggested that there was friction between Harbaugh and members of the organisation, including general manager Trent Baalke and CEO Jed York, which he has hinted may have been the case for his exit.

Harbaugh told The Tim Kawakami Show: "Yes, I was told I wouldn't be the coach anymore and you can call it mutual.

"I wasn't going to put the 49ers in a position to have a coach they didn't want anymore. That's the truth of it. I didn't leave the 49ers, I felt like the 49er hierarchy left me."

Harbaugh was appointed as the new head coach of college side the Michigan Wolverines last month.