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[Eagletarian]

Noble quits Crusaders boss role

Brian Noble has announced he is leaving his post as boss of the troubled Crusaders after just one season, paving the way for Iestyn Harris to take over.

Noble oversaw the club's rise to eighth place in the Super League following their move from Bridgend to Wrexham.

"I won't be going around with the Crusaders [next season]," he said.

The club faces a winding up order in the High Court in London from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs over unpaid tax on 10 November.

The Welsh franchise also faces legal action from the Rugby League Players Association over claims of missing pension payments to players.

Noble said: "They've got their own challenge on at the moment. I know they inherited a difficult situation and I know that behind the scenes it got more difficult through no fault of their own.

"They've done brilliantly well to fend off all they have so far and they should be given all the help to get through. I'm confident they will go round again next year.

"My heart is there and, if I'm back doing nothing, I'll go round and look after them if I can. I wish them the best for sure."

Noble guided Bradford five consecutive Grand Finals before moving to Wigan in 2006, is to take time out of the game but insists he will be back in club coaching before long and has been linked with a role under his former Bradford boss Matthew Elliott at Penrith Panthers.

"I'm going to have a look at some things over here," he said. "I think I've still got some juice left in me at 49 to do another club or maybe two, who knows?

"There are a couple of options but none of them are solid. I'm really keen to get up to speed. That's what I've missed over the last 11 years of constant 50 weeks a year coaching."

BBC Sport understands the Crusaders will name Wales coach Harris as their new boss.

Harris was an assistant to Noble last season along with Jon Sharp and guided Wales to a European Championship win that earns a place in next year's Four Nations tournament against England, Australia and New Zealand.

Ex-Welsh dual code international Harris quit playing last year when he was appointed on to Noble's backroom staff.

The 34-year-old's rugby league career began at Warrington in 1994 before moving to Leeds Rhinos in 1997 for £350,000, and two years later became the first Leeds captain to lift silverware in 10 years - the Challenge Cup.

In the same year, he broke the club record for goals in a season with 168, and broke the 2,000 career points total in 2001.

It was then, that he sealed a switch to rugby union, joining Cardiff for £2m, where he spent the next three years and won 25 caps for Wales.

Harris returned to rugby league in 2004 joining the Bradford Bulls, and two years later, he retired from international rugby with Great Britain after making 15 appearances, but continued to play for Wales where he won 19 caps.

He succeeded former Crusaders coach John Dixon last September in the role of Wales head coach and has led the country to the European Cup finale with France on Saturday.

Victory would secure qualification to rugby league's 2011 Four Nations showpiece alongside England, Australia and New Zealand.
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.u...ers/9109417.stm

Published: 2010/11/07 19:50:39 GMT

© BBC MMX

[wings beneath my feet]

definately sunk now Harris is the new boss! till may not even get to th start of the season with the bts and court cases against it