Kristian Woolf: What he'll miss at St Helens and thoughts on possible successor

MC: You have had a lot to weigh up with this decision to leave?

KW: While we didn’t want to say publicly we made the decision a little while ago that it was the right time to take the family home.

There were a few personal reasons that had to be considered heavily there and that is something the club and playing group have been aware of for a while and there has been an open communication that way.

Then it came down to looking for opportunities at home that may coincide with that decision.

It has been a difficult decision.

MC: Has the pull of St Helens and what is building here made that more difficult?

KW: Making a decision on what you are leaving behind does make that really difficult, in particular the people who are involved with the club and those you get to work with every day.

We love living in St Helens and all the support. We have been made to feel so welcome here in the time we have been here.

We have become a real part of the community and that becomes really hard to say goodbye to, particularly the kids particularly the little friendship groups they have made through their sport.

The most difficult thing to walk away from is the the playing group and staff that I am involved with every day.

They are an exceptional group of men and what makes them that is that they are all good people who all want to work together.

They present and carry themselves in an outstanding manner and that shows in how they play their footy on the field.

They have also got that outstanding drive to want to compete and want to win and work hard.

They have done that week on week, year on year. To make a decision that you are going to leave that is really hard to get your head around.

MC: You have probably seen it at things like last night’s forum, but there is a real warmth towards that has grown after a difficult start?

KW: It is something I am very thankful of and can’t say how much I appreciate. But I haven’t left yet and there are big games to play.

But one thing I will look back on and remember extremely fondly is the way our fans create such an atmosphere, the way they have supported the team and me and my family.

They show it at every home game and also in the community generally – even if that is just at Sainsbury’s when you are picking up milk, there’s always someone giving you support. It is something I will miss.

MC: Are you relieved that this is now out there and you don’t have to dead bat questions any longer?

KW: A little bit, yes because when you know decisions have been made you probably prefer to come out and say that straight away – but there were a lot of considerations with getting the timing right from a personal, team and club point of view.

We had to make sure the timing was exactly right and winning the League Leaders on Monday and getting that, and the expectation, out of the way.

Getting the announcement out now, knowing that there’s no effect on the footy team or club was best.

After this week we can just prepare to be at our absolute best for the semi final.

We haven’t finished the job yet. One thing we spoke about with the players when I told them we were going to go home was that my commitment to play my small part in helping them to achieve something special is not going to change one bit.

The group are very driven to do that – we have won the League Leaders but we have other things we want to go on and achieve.

The players play the biggest part – we all play a little part in how we support them. I will play my part to the absolute best of my ability to achieve that.

MC: How did the players react when you explained?

KW: They were extremely understanding and supportive. They understand that there are other factors involved.

As rugby league players they understand that coaches come and go and that there’s always going to be change there.

They have handled that change a number of times.

Change can be confronting and there is always the human side of how much you are going to miss working with people.

The players understand that next season is another year and a new coach is going to come in and they will want to win just as much with new ideas and freshness.

MC: The club will name the successor at the end of the year, but how would you rate your assistant Paul Wellens’ qualities and capabilities for that role?

KW: The club will make a decision on who they see as the best fit going forward.

What I would say is that I would 100 per cent endorse Paul Wellens as the next coach.

I came here three years ago knowing what he had achieved as a player but not knowing him as a coach or a person.

I would go as far as saying he’s an exceptional person, someone I have grown extremely close to and he’ll be a lifelong friend after I leave.

I have grown to respect him extremely highly as a coach.

He is one of, if not the best assistants I have had the privilege of working with.

He has a terrific football knowledge, an outstanding work ethic, he looks at the game differently and how the game should be played.

He also gets his messages across which is an important trait for an upcoming coach.

If the club went that way, Paul has done a great apprenticeship under some outstanding coaches, internationally and at this club.

I would have no doubt whatsoever he would be an enormous success.

He has a terrific nature and his ability to speak with players and manage them is an attribute. He is a very honest person as well but he gives that in the right way and can still keep that human side and keep that relationship is an important part of coaching.

That is another thing I think he would do extremely well.