Moloney told players at the club’s first pre-season training session on Monday night he was unable to lead the Eagles for a second season due to health reasons.

His address reportedly left some hardened officials with tears in their eyes. 

The decision, communicated to club president Pat Doran about 24 hours earlier, stunned the club, which in July extended Moloney’s tenure for 2015.

Moloney told The Standard yesterday he had to step aside before the rigours of coaching took a toll on his health.

“It’s a tough decision but it’s the right one,” Moloney said. “I couldn’t have done justice to the club, the job or the players if I had kept on going.

“The best thing for my health and the club was to step away.”

Moloney said he was indebted to the Eagles for their understanding.

“The club has been sensational with their support and football supporters everywhere.   It’s been uplifting. That’s what’s great about football clubs.”

Moloney said stepping down had lifted a weight off his shoulders.

“I’m feeling better because the pressure has been released,” he said. 

“It’s all about self-doubt. You doubt your ability to do things and you start to worry.”

Moloney, who took the Eagles to their third consecutive preliminary final this season, said football was a big part of his life and he would stay interested.

“I will become an over-the-fence expert. I will keep supporting North Warrnambool Eagles and football in general. It’s a great community thing and I need to be around it.”

Eagles football director Michael Harrison said the club would support Moloney.

“Bernard’s health for him and his family is more important than the football club,” Harrison said.

“It’s more important he recovers and he will definitely support us next year and that will happen when the time is right.”

He said club officials were “all stunned” but understood Moloney’s health was the priority.

“We will support him through his health issues and we respect him for what he’s done for the football club and we look forward to the day when he is back at the club and seeing how we are going,” he said.

Harrison said the Eagles had set up a three-man subcommittee to identify the club’s new coach. He said the club would not rush the process.

“The subcommittee will look at all potential coaches and we are seeking the right person, whether that is a playing coach or non-playing coach. We’ve got a good playing group, we’ve got great juniors. Everything is positive going forward.

“We are lucky we have people like Brendan Murfett as assistant coach, along with the leadership group. They took training.”

Harrison said the club’s former assistant coaches Herb Barlow and Tim Sheldon, who remain at the club, oversaw pre-season training before the Eagles appointed David Haynes playing coach in 2011.

“It’s not an unknown scenario for us. The whole club has to embrace what’s happened and we have to be very diligent going forward.”

Murfett and the leadership group will continue to oversee pre-season preparations until a new coach is appointed.

The Eagles are also searching for a new reserves coach after Brad Clough told the club he was stepping down because he and his partner had both secured work opportunities in Geelong.

The Eagles are one of two Hampden league clubs in the market for a senior coach, with Cobden seeking a replacement for Stephen Hammond, who stood down at the end of the season after one year at the helm.