Titans looking closer to home for Codling’s successor

Alex Codling, who succeeded Andre Bester in November, has decided to stand down at the end of the season for personal reasons.

While Bester left in a disciplinary storm, Codling has realised that ties to his family home in Surrey were proving too strong to break.

The 39-year-old’s planned departure at the end of the season is by no means acrimonious, and he goes with the best wishes of the Titans’ board, but they are once again left searching for a new head coach.

Perhaps chastened by the experience, they are prioritising a local man who can lay down roots in Yorkshire and at Clifton Lane.

“We want stability and we want to sort it sooner rather than later,” said Titans chairman Nick Cragg, who said an appointment of a coach for next term could be made before the end of this current campaign.

“We’d like someone who is more local, someone who is going to commit to the club long term and move to the area, if they’re not already here. That’s the plan.

“This is a really big appointment for us.

“We have already had people on the phone who were in the running last time that weren’t successful who want us to reconsider them.

“There were three or four other contenders last time who were excellent.

“We didn’t choose them for various reasons, mainly because Alex had the better credentials.”

Lee Blackett stepped up to the plate while Rotherham searched for Bester’s successor and will continue to assist Codling until the end of the season. As for succeeding him permanently, it is understood both parties think it is too big a full-time challenge for a player who is only 30.

On Codling’s departure, Cragg added: “We are very disappointed Alex is not stopping with us.

“We thought we had found our man to build this club, but it was not to be.

“But the future is still bright at Rotherham Titans and everything remains positive about the club.”