Monk, who was appointed for a two-year term, will end his tenure after one season, citing mounting family, business and radio commitments.

The 38-year-old told players after South Warrnambool’s 40-point loss to Portland on Saturday that the next five games would be his last as non-playing coach.

“It’s a mutual decision. It’s a good decision,” he said after consulting the club.

“I’d signed for two years but I always said let’s see what happens. With all the balls I’m juggling, I feel like next year I don’t want it to wane and lose interest.

“This group of players are seriously an exciting group of kids. I think they need someone to take them for three or four years. Whether it’s a playing coach or a non-playing coach, I don’t know.

“I was never a stop-gap. I always said I would be short-term to inject some enthusiasm, policies and procedures and structures and get the place a bit of hype it deserves.”

He said the Roosters, who had been winning games with as many as a dozen under 18½ players in the senior side, were well placed for success in the future.

“It’s time for someone to come in and have some impact and take them forward,” he said.

Monk said his assistants Brad Miller, Jeremy Mitchem and Danny Finn could all do the job.

“We are all about bringing someone in who could have an impact,” Monk said.

“If their impact comes from being a strong centre half-back, a strong onballer or a strong centre half-forward or a very good strategist, I don’t think it matters. 

“Someone who can take the field, have an impact may be a good option because we have good support off the ground. 

“If you want to coach a very good group, an exciting group to the ultimate prize, we are it.”

Roosters president Jock O’Connor said the club was disappointed to lose Monk but was grateful for his input this season.

“It is a bit of a blow because ‘Monkey’ is doing a fantastic job and has really put the wheels in motion to get us up for a few good years,” he said. “We are disappointed that Monkey won’t be going on because we think he could be a premiership coach.

“He had heaps and heaps going on. It might have been a problem but we thought the risk was worth it and it was with what he’s done so far.”

But O’Connor said South Warrnambool was confident it would find a suitable replacement to help further fast-track the club’s young talent and had already begun its search for a new mentor.

“The fact he has resigned is not the end of the world, it’s an opportunity for someone else to take us to the next level,” he said.