Sheridan wants final flourish with Rovers

The former Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain scrum-half says he believes the end of the season is the correct time to make his break from Post Office Road. He has been in temporary charge of the side since Daryl Powell left to take over at Castleford Tigers in May.

However, Warrington Wolves head of youth development John Bastian has already been confirmed as Featherstone head coach for next year and Sheridan will not stay on. He was assistant to Powell as they finished top of the Championship in 2010, 2011 and 2012 and won the Grand Final two years ago.

Sheridan – who also had a spell on the coaching staff at Dewsbury Rams – confirmed: “I’ve decided to leave the club at the end of the year. It is time to move on. I have had a great time at Featherstone and I will be sad to leave a great bunch of players. But five years at a club is a long time and I am looking forward to a fresh challenge.”

Looking back on his partnership with former Sheffield Eagles team-mate Powell, Sheridan added: “I think myself and Daryl put Featherstone back on the map and we have taken the club forward. I’d like to think I have played a part in that.”

Dewsbury-born Sheridan, 38, has been linked with the vacant assistant’s job at Bradford Bulls where his former Leeds team-mate Francis Cummins is in charge. However, he would not comment on his future plans.

Meanwhile, on-loan duo Sam Barlow (Halifax) and James Green (Hull KR) could feature for the first time when Featherstone head to bottom-placed Swinton Lions tomorrow.

Rovers are in a good position to go on and finish top again but after shock losses to York City Knights and Doncaster earlier in the year, Sheridan is wary.

He said: “My message to the players is we have to have a big-game mentality.

“Every game we go into, our approach has got to be spot on. We’ve been burned in the past by so-called lesser teams.”