Ricky Stuart admits his decision to remain in charge of Cronulla after declaring he would leave at the end of the year was a mistake and had 'drained' the players to the point where they were no longer competitive.
After back-to-back losses to Newcastle and Manly - the latter a humiliating 30-point loss at home on Saturday night - Stuart tendered his resignation immediately, believing he could no longer draw the best out of the struggling Sharks.
Shane Flanagan, already appointed head coach for 2011, will take over the job ahead of time in a move Stuart says is right for all parties.
"The writing was on the wall there Saturday night when I saw a different bunch of players than what I have over the last four years," Stuart said on Tuesday.
"That was probably the reason I started to think about what's best for the players, what's best for me and what's best for the club going forward."
"I bashed myself up a fair bit on Sunday after that loss because it was an embarrassing situation for all of us - it wasn't the players or the quality of football team that I know."
"It was important for me to try and correct that in some fashion and I think the best way for me to correct it is that Shane takes over."
Stuart believes the players were caught in between trying to impress the new boss while wanting to perform for their old master.
"They're playing for Shane now, they're playing for Shane for next year and I think it gives Shane every opportunity now to work with that group of boys to restore some pride," he explained.
"In that room there with staff and players, it's only us who see the loyalty for one another, the commitment and the hard work and it's not being shown on the field at the moment."
"I've got Shane here who the boys see as their boss for next year. I was here floating around and was the boss for this year - it made it a very tough predicament for the players."
Stuart also conceded the fact Cronulla is well out of the running for the finals contributed to the drop off in intensity over the last fortnight.
"I just feel as though I may have drained the players to a stage where it's very hard when you're not playing for the eight," he said.
"We know we can't make the eight and it's very hard to go out and to deliver that extra percentage and deliver that extra effort and I think Shane can get that out of them."
Stuart addressed the squad before training on Tuesday afternoon but declined to reveal what he told the players.
He did, however, bristle at suggestions the team may not have been happy to read about his departure in the paper instead of hearing the news direct.
"I have no regrets whatsoever - you can ask the players," he said.
"I explained to the players that I couldn't get to them all last night."
"They know me well enough. I've done nothing behind their backs over the last four years, they've done nothing behind my back."
"There was a great respect and loyalty from player to coach and coach to player within that group."
Asked if he had a message for fans, Stuart responded: "I said for a number of years now that I would give anything to win the competition for the very loyal supporters that they have at this club that have waited a long time."
"I couldn't deliver that but I'm very happy to say I gave it more than 100 percent."