WANGARATTA Rovers coach John McNamara has announced he will step down at the end of the Ovens and Murray Football League season after leading the Hawks for the past four years.

With the Hawks no longer in finals contention, sitting in seventh position with six wins and eight losses, McNamara told his players during Tuesday night?s training session that he would not seek to be reappointed for a fifth season at the helm.

"It?s something I?ve been contemplating since about the middle of the year," McNamara said.

"I?ve had talks with the club about it over the past few weeks, and I let them know that I was leaning that way.

"It?s something I didn?t want to leave until the last minute - if you drag these matters on then the club gets left in the lurch, so I did some thinking and finalised my decision on the weekend, then told the boys on Tuesday night."

McNamara cited family commitments as his chief reason for resigning, with a strong desire to spend more time with his three sons, all under the age of six.

He said he would enjoy having the opportunity to take his boys to Melbourne to watch AFL matches, but the Rovers would still be high on the family?s agenda.

McNamara was unsure if he would continue to play a role at the club next season, but said he would remain a keen supporter regardless.

"The boys have grown up around the club, and it?s a great environment, so we?ll definitely still come down and watch the side play next year," he said.

"The club has asked me to stay on in some capacity, and that is something I will think about, and come to a decision later on.

"I?d like to be able to take the boys down to watch some AFL matches, but I don?t want to completely remove them from the Rovers."

McNamara said his decision had little to do with the Hawks? on field results this year, disputing the suggestion the club had underachieved.

"A lot of people think that, but when you take into account injuries, and the fact we?re spending probably a third of what some clubs are, you could argue that with the side we have we?ve done alright this year," he said.

"We haven?t had all the big name recruits - last weekend we had probably 18 locals playing in the side.

"We?ve continued to develop young, local talent, and I think that?s an important thing for the club."

McNamara said he would like to be remembered as a coach who worked hard for his team, and said his fondest memories would be of the young players he has watched rise through the ranks, along with the sensation of winning.

"I think I?ve worked pretty tirelessly, put in a lot of hours, and left no stone unturned," he said.

"I?ve really enjoyed watching some of the young blokes come up through the thirds system, through the reserves and into the senior side.

"The run home we had last year was another great period, but I?ve really enjoyed all our wins."

www.nenews.com.au - Written by SCOTT ANDERSON.