Rugby League News

Rugby league head coach hands in shock resignation as owner announces interim plans

by
Sam Cook
June 17, 2025

A rugby league head coach in the Championship has called time on their spell in charge with the club owner providing an update.

Batley Bulldogs owner Mark Nicholas has spoken in a video posted by the club to confirm that Mark Moxon has resigned as head coach in a decision made purely by Moxon.

Nicholas was keen to iterate that Moxon would always be welcome to return to the Bulldogs as he praised the 44-year-old for his contributions across what has been more than a decade of association.

Moxon didn’t become head coach until 2024, taking over from Craig Lingard, however his involvement stems back a lot further – something that Nicholas would note.

In 2025, Batley are struggling with the club winning just twice in their first 12 games of the season. That leaves them 11th with Sunday’s heavy 50-12 defeat to Doncaster proving to be Moxon’s last with the club.

Late on Monday evening, Batley Bulldogs Rugby League Football Club took to X to share a video of Kevin Nicholas confirming Moxon’s exit, captioned: “For 14 years of outstanding service to our club, our sincerest thanks go to Mark Moxon and his family. A Bulldog is for Life.”

Rugby League coach steps down on back of heavy loss

In that video, Nicholas outlined Moxon’s decision, the club’s plans going forward, and praised the 44-year-old for his contributions.

Nicholas began: “I thought I’d make a big announcement on behalf of the club. We’ve had a meeting with Mark Moxon, our head coach, and in entirely his decision, he has decided to stand down as head coach, as of now.

“This is nothing whatsoever to do with the board making that decision. It is totally Mark’s decision and I personally am disappointed that he will be leaving the club.

“He has been a big part of this club, having come with John Kear in 2012. He’s been involved in a Grand Final in 2013, the middle-eights in 2016, an 1895 Cup Final, and in the Grand Final at Leigh. That’s a pretty impressive CV in my book.”

He’d add: “We’re desperately disappointed that he’s leaving but he feels that in his family’s best interests and in the club’s best interests, that he needs to stand down and see if the team can get a new voice.

“We’ve got a short turnaround to the game on Friday at Bradford Bulls. In the meantime, Jaymes Chapman and Ben Kaye are taking charge of the team and then we’ll take up the (search for a new coach) after that.

“A massive thanks to Mark Moxon. I didn’t want to do it in a statement because it means a lot to this club what he’s done. All the best to Mark and his family going forward. He’s welcome at this club any time.”

Batley would also share a statement from Moxon where he outlined what a difficult decision it had been, thanked the players and the fans, and called for a ‘different direction’ to turn fortunes around.