Kevin Brown rules out Widnes return as head coach

Former Widnes captain Kevin Brown will not be in the running to succeed Simon Finnigan as Vikings head coach.

Brown, 37, spent four years at the Halton Stadium, leading them to the play-offs in 2014 when he earned a spot in the Super League Dream Team.

He was sold to Warrington at the end of 2016 and barely two years after he left, Widnes were relegated.

After hanging up his boots last year, following two seasons at Salford, Brown has become a regular TV pundit on Premier Sports.

Vikings: Widnes part company with Simon Finnigan

Kevin Brown rules out Widnes return

But he told Love Rugby League that despite his love for the club, he has no desire to be a head coach.

No clear favourite for the job has yet emerged, with Ryan O’Brien set to lead the team on an interim basis at Featherstone on Sunday.

Former Leigh coach John Duffy, who starred for Widnes during his playing days, could be a contender, while Andrew Henderson is known to be keen on landing a head coach role.

Recently departed Leeds coach Richard Agar helped Widnes to promotion to Super League in 2001.

Widnes’ Championship rivals Bradford parted company with their coach John Kear, currently the Wales national team coach, on the same day they bid farewell to Finnigan.

Finnigan had been in charge since the shock departure of Tim Sheens ahead of the 2021 season.

He failed to make the play-offs in his first season and won the first four games of this campaign, but Widnes have lost six in a row including Sunday’s 38-10 humbling at home to Batley.

Last year, Brown opened up about his controversial exit from Widnes to arch rivals Warrington.

When he faced his former club for the first time, inflatable snakes were thrown on to the pitch in his direction.

The negative reception spurred him on to score a hat-trick in a man of the match display.

READ MORE: Leigh boss Adrian Lam reacts to Championship coaching departures