Kear adamant Wildcats better-placed after his time at helm

The Trinity coach will end his five years in charge at Belle Vue with tonight’s Super League climax knowing victory over Bradford Bulls would see them avoid finishing bottom.

After going into administration and being deducted four points at the start of the campaign, Kear saw several of his top players depart with uncertainty surrounding the club’s attempt to stay in Super League.

But with a top-flight future secure, and Kear set for pastures new, the Wakefield coach is determined to finish a turbulent season well, although he shrugs off questions that it will be an emotional night for himself.

“I don’t think its about me, it’s about this team and group of players,” said Kear.

“It’s not only me leaving; we have one player retiring and several other players who are playing their last game for the club.

“I think it will be emotional in that way but we also have a job to do in order to achieve one of the goals which we set ourselves when we were deducted four points at the start of the season. That was to try and ensure we don’t finish bottom of the pile and obviously it’s still in our hands.

“That’s been a big focus for this week. The players are playing busted, some are young players who are very emotionally drained and tired after a first season in Super League, but we just need to conjure up one big effort and come up with the correct result.”

Wakefield know they must better the result of 13th-placed Crusaders, who travel to second-placed Wigan tonight, to avoid finishing in the 14th and final berth.

Kear has ‘irons in the fire’ over his coaching future, but refuses to divulge any details so as not to distract from Wakefield’s mission tonight on the field.

But the 56-year-old, who has also coached at Sheffield Eagles, Huddersfield and Hull FC, is adamant his Belle Vue successor will inherit a much-improved set-up following his five years in charge.

“I have greatly enjoyed my time at Wakefield. There’s been lots of adversity, a lot of sad times, but that’s more than been counter-balanced with some very enjoyable experiences and periods during my tenure at the club. I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

“It has been tough, especially after the deaths of Leon Walker and Adam Watene, the suicide of Terry Newton, but I think we have handled things with a bit of dignity, respect as a club and personally, and I think we can take some solace from that.

“But also we have had some good times as well, some great season-long campaigns.”

Under new chairman Andrew Glover, the future looks bright for Wakefield, clutching their new Super League licence.

And Kear does admit he has a tinge of regret that he will not be at the helm for what is an exciting new chapter in the Wildcats’ history.

“That’s one of the things where there will be an element of sadness in it being the last game of my tenure, but there is also an element of contentment and satisfaction,” he said.

“I feel the club is structurally, in terms of development of players, in a better place than it was a few years ago.”