Former Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity boss John Kear, after an illustrious career, has reportedly retired from coaching.
A terrific coach with an amazing pedigree, Kear has been out of a club job since he left Widnes Vikings in 2023 but speaking to Forty20, Kear has admitted he isn’t interested in taking on a full time role in the future though would be content with some smaller jobs here and there.
A sad day for the sport with one of the great coaches of the Super League era calling it a day.
The former Super League coach left the club after an announcement with the Vikings seventh in the Championship having won seven of their sixteen games at that stage in the 2023 season.
Kear joined Widnes last year after a five-year stint in charge of Widnes’ Championship rivals Bradford Bulls – the side that sat just one place above the Vikings and level on points with Halifax in fifth who occupy the final playoff place showing how close Widnes were to the play-offs at the time of Kear’s departure. They would get no closer.
Despite his recent Championship stints, Kear is more famous for his time in the top flight and famously led Sheffield Eagles to the Challenge Cup in 1998 and did the same with Hull FC in 2005 at the expense of Wigan Warriors and Leeds Rhinos respectively.
Kear also guided Wakefield Trinity to their joint highest Super League finish in 2009, taking them to fifth. This was only ever matched in 2017 and 2018 by Chris Chester.
Speaking on Kear’s departure, the club stated: “We have parted company with Head Coach John Kear with immediate effect.”
Head of Operations, Chris Hamilton, added: ” Of course it is never an easy decision to part company with a coach, and we wish to place on record our thanks to John for all his efforts whilst at the club and wish him well in the future.”
The decision came after Widnes lost to Swinton Lions on Sunday, 25-18. It was a result that leave the Vikings five points adrift of the playoff places as we approach the business end of the season.
