John Stankevitch steps down as Rochdale Hornets coach

Rochdale Hornets coach John Stankevitch has stepped down.

Stankevitch will remain as at the club as a sporting director, taking an administrative role at the club and supporting the new head coach.

He is also stepping away from the playing and coaching side of rugby league in order to spend more time with his family.

He said exclusivly to Love Rugby League: “I have been involved with rugby league since I was 16. I have never known anything else and all I have known is professional rugby league, first as a player and now as a coach.

“I have my own family now. I have a 10 year-old and a five year-old, and to be perfectly honest all they have ever known is rugby as well.

“I have found over the last couple of years, especially this year as the children get older, its having more and more of an impact on family life. So much so it has pretty much taken over all my family life so I don’t get to see the kids at all.”

Stankevitch says he is still in love with the sport, and says he will be doing everything he can to keep Rochdale Hornets alive as the club struggles to compete in Championship 1.

He said: “Also I really feel we need to take the club forward, and I don’t think we have this year.

“The teams that are one to four in Championship 1 are the teams that have spent money. Doncaster with Paul Cooke, Whitehaven with Jamie Rooney and Workington have spent money as well. We’ve not been able to do that because we don’t have any money coming into the club whatsoever.

“I have spoke at length with the chairman and directors, and said in order for the club to move forward we have to get some finances in. I want to concentrate the majority of my time brining money to the club. I want to bring in hospitality and sponsorship, and looking at ways of raising revenue, and crowds as well as getting kids through the gates. If we don’t move on as a club we’re going to die very quickly.”

Rochdale will announce a new coach in due course.