McRae Quits as Coaching Director
8th January 2007
Shaun McRae has cited a desire to be a hands-on coach again as the reason for quitting his administrative role at South Sydney - just months after taking up the post. McRae stunned Rabbitohs officials by resigning from the coaching director's position today, but the former St Helens and Hull mentor denied he already had a new job lined up. McRae was sacked as first grade coach late last year when the club opted to promote incoming assistant Jason Taylor to the role of head coach, despite McRae having received assurances from Rabbitohs owner Peter Holmes a Court that his position was safe for the 2007 season. The club then offered McRae a newly created director of coaching and football operations role, a position he said never felt right. "I just felt that the job that I was doing didn't quite suit me at this stage of my life," McRae said. "When I was removed from the coaching position I thought long and hard before taking up the role. "I gave it seven or eight weeks but I never really settled into the role. "I've never hidden my desire to coach again and I also enjoyed the stuff I did with the media and that's something I hope to pursue." McRae dismissed any notion that he had trouble working with Taylor, who was installed as head coach after showing enormous potential in a short stint as interim coach at Parramatta last year. "I got on great with Jason," McRae said. "I have no doubt whatsoever that the team will succeed next year. Jason's a good coach and the guys they've brought in have settled in real well." Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson said he was surprised and disappointed by the decision but claimed he understood why it was made. He said the club would weigh up its options before deciding whether it would seek a replacement. "We'll go to the board and talk about a few things," Richardson said. "I think we will (replace him), but we'll just wait and see and take our time. "It only happened this afternoon with Bomber (McRae) so it's a bit early to make any decision on that."