The embarrassing falling out between 2017 coach Steve Kidd and the club claimed two more victims last week with president Damo Evans and secretary David Cleaves both resigning in the wake of Kidd’s resignation.

 Darrell  Wilkinson will act as interim president and Cherie Douglas as interim secretary until fresh elections at the annual general meeting in October.

Wilkinson said the club had received seven quality applicants before Monday’s deadline and the coach appointment sub-committee would make its recommendation to the full committee for ratification this week.

He said he expected the new coach to be named on Friday afternoon.

“We have a quality field of applicants, with a number having Newcastle Rugby League experience. We will conduct interviews and should be in a position to announce the 2018 coach on Friday,” he said.

Kidd, who was one year into a two-year contract, turned down a last-ditch SOS call from the Cessnock Goannas to return as coach less than a week after both parties agreed to part ways.

He didn’t attend a club meeting last Wednesday night and said the matter had “gone too far” to consider coming back to complete the second year of his contract.   

“In the end it’s just gone too far and the damage has been done,” Kidd said.

“Is it just a pride thing, I don’t know? But I thought the club had to move forward without me.”

Last week Kidd cited a lack of support from the club amid rumours officials were looking for another coach in 2018. An agreement was made to part ways, but Kidd was then contacted again by the Goannas over the weekend.

Kidd said he has spoken to most of the first grade playing group, who were “all pretty disappointed by the sounds of it”.