CQ Capras are on the hunt for a new coach after Kim Williams announced he is leaving at the end of the season for the UK so he and wife Caron can pursue their love of travel.
"It's something we've been planning to do and talking about for at least 10 years," Williams said at a media conference with Capras CEO Peter White on Thursday (June 21).
"I'm hoping to get an opportunity over in the UK to stay in the rugby league industry but for us our other passion is travelling and it gives us the opportunity to do that."
Williams said he was in early talks with UK clubs and felt he'd have a job cemented before he left. He said he and his wife had a window of opportunity to live overseas and they would have regretted letting it pass.
Intrust Super Cup Round 15 Highlights: Tigers v Capras
Difficult season
The Capras have won three from 14 matches in 2018 and sit second from the bottom leading into Round 16 of the Intrust Super Cup.
"I wouldn't be comfortable leaving if I didn't think we'd turned things around here... but I think everything's heading in the right direction," Williams said.
"I'm pretty sure that the brand and the reputation of the club have improved in my time here and that's something I'm really proud of.
"The disappointment and the only disappointment to me is our position on the ladder. Obviously, any coach wants to finish up near the top and, to an extent, you're judged on that but I think the people close to the club here understand what I've tried to do here."
Intrust Super Cup Top 5: Round 15
Improved culture
CEO White said Williams had contributed to a change in culture at the club.
"I think in particular you're seeing the results on the field, albeit our most recent games not played with much luck, but we're certainly testing the top sides and you only do that when you're getting the best out of your team," he said.
White said he'd start searching for a coach next week.
"We'll go looking, we'll put it out there, because we want the best possible person to follow on what Kim's put in place," he said.
Focus on strong finish
Williams said he'd wrestled for months with the decision to forego his option for a fourth year at the Capras.
"The important thing was to put the club and the players first and that's why we've announced it now during the bye week, it gives the players a little bit of time to process that and move on.
"Over the last two weeks I've had more and more players coming and asking about contracts for the future and it's the only fair way to do it.
Intrust Super Cup Round 14 Highlights: Tweed v Capras
Initial shock
"It was pretty silent in the room (when I told the players)," Williams said. "There a little bit of initial shock but I had plenty of them come up afterwards and shake my hand and thank me and wish me all the best.
"The thing is we've got eight or nine matches left. I won't be making a big thing of it from this point on, we just had to get it out there and I'll have them focused back on the next game at Tuesday's training session.
"My job's to get them refocused now and just finish the season on a high."
Other coaching news
The news comes after Wynnum Manly Seagulls announced former Titans, Cowboys and Raiders coach Neil Henry has been brought in as an assistant coach to help Adam Brideson for rest of the season. Wynnum sit one spot above the Capras on the ladder with five wins so far.
