http://rugbyleaguelive.com.au/Artic...rt_Brian_Smith_to_coach_Roosters_in_2010.aspx
Brian Smith to coach Roosters in 2010
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http://rugbyleaguelive.com.au/Artic...t_Brian_Smith_to_coach_Roosters_in_2010.aspx#
Rugbyleaguelive.com & AAP | 18/07/09 | 0
Newcastle coach Brian Smith has sought a release from the Knights to take up an offer to coach the Sydney Roosters from next season.
Smith will replace Brad Fittler at the helm of the Roosters club in 2010, ending his three-year association with the Knights.
The Knights board has to approve the release on Monday, but that appears a formality.
"I don't think Newcastle was ever going to be long-term for Brian," Knights chief executive Steve Burraston told Fox Sports on Saturday night.
"If he had an opportunity to get a pretty substantial position somewhere else for a long period of time, it would be wrong for us to stand in his way I think.
"Brian asked us today if he could have a release so he could take up the position with the Roosters.
"From the chairman's and my point of view, we said we would be recommending to the board on Monday that that be the case, that we do grant him a release.
"In any employment outside of footy, you wouldn't stand in someone's way if they could do something that they wanted to do in their career."
Rumour about Fittler's future at Bondi Junction have swirled for much of the season, given the club's reluctance to enter negotiations to re-sign him.
Smith has taken the Knights from cellar-dwellars to major finals contenders in the space of three seasons, but Newcastle is reportedly willing to release the former Dragons and Parramatta coach from the final year of his contract to join the Roosters.
Fittler's Roosters have fallen from grace dramatically this season, and are languishing at the bottom of the ladder after a top four finish last season.
Burraston said the Roosters had offered Smith a four-year deal, compared to the one season Smith has remaining on his Newcastle contract.
"I would suggest without knowing that it's probably substantially more than we're capable of paying as well and he had family reasons around that as well," Burraston said.
He said the Knights had a number of ideas regarding a possible head coach for next year, including assistants at Newcastle and other clubs.
"We're not short of options, put it that way," he said.
But he played down talk club great Andrew Johns would be the man.
"I don't think Joey would like a full-time coaching career. He has stated that publicly on many occasions that he's not cut out to be a coach," Burraston said.
Burraston said he was more than happy to have Smith as head coach for the remainder of the 2009 season.
"He's a very intense coach and he's a very professional coach," Burraston said.
"Brian will give us everything and he gave me his word on that and said he has got a competition to win here and he firmly believes we will win the competition."
I don't think Newcastle was ever going to be long-term for Brian.
Steve Burraston, Knights CEO
One of the biggest shocks I've gotten.
It would seem the Knights admin are happy for Smith to take a long term offer.
