Brown confirms end-of-season Huddersfield Giants departure

HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS coach Nathan Brown has confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season - with 12 months still left on his contract.

Rumours have been rife recently that the Australian would head home for 2011 and Huddersfield chairman Ken Davy today revealed Giants have now accepted his resignation.

However, the former St George Ilawarra chief insists he has no club lined up in the NRL for next year and it is merely "family reasons" why he is returning.

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Brown, 36, said: "It's purely a family decision that I have had to make to go home at the end of this year.

"Despite what's been written by some I don't have a job to go to nor have I even spoken to anyone back home about employment – this decision is not about my professional life its about my family's life.

"To say I have enjoyed my time here – and will continue to do so – is an understatement, its been great for us but I just have to make this decision now for the benefit of everyone as the continued and relentless media speculation has been good for no one."

Last season he won Super League coach of the year after guiding Huddersfield to Wembley and a highest-ever Super league finish of third in his debut campaign.

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They currently lie in fourth spot but have suffered heavy back-to-back defeats against Wigan and in Saturday's 60-4 Challenge Cup trouncing by Warrington, the side that defeated them in the Wembley final last August.

However, Brown maintains he is ready to try and push the Giants - who entertain table-toppers Wigan on Sunday - towards their first-ever Grand Final.

He said: "We were on the end of a hiding on Saturday - we can't hide from that - but in no way am I disillusioned or have had any of my passion driven from me to bring success to the club.

"Sadly in sport you can have days like that and my job for the remainder of the year is to ensure there are no repeats and see if we can get back to finishing in the winners' sheds.

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"Nothing would give me more pleasure than to reward the chairman, board and fans of this great club with a trophy.

"I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to come here and I think the club has made huge strides forwards in my short time here and can continue to do so."

Davy added: "We had read like everyone the speculation floating around and Nathan has always been totally honest and upfront with us that he wished to return in due course to the NRL.

"Personal circumstances have meant that this has come a year sooner than either of us would have predicted or wanted.

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"However, there is no doubt that this has been an unsettling period for all concerned and now that the uncertainty is cleared up, we can all knuckle down to the immediate job in hand which is bringing success to the Huddersfield Giants.

"I know that Nathan will do all he can to ensure that he goes out on a high."

Assistant Paul Anderson, who signed a new two-year deal last week, is favourite to succeed Brown but the position will be discussed at Giants' next monthly board meeting.