Featherstone Rovers are have announced the appointment of former Swinton Lions head coach John Duffy.
Duffy, 37, has put pen to paper on an initial one-year deal with the club, meaning the former Super League star will be in charge until at least the end of the 2018 campaign.
The Scotland assistant coach departed Swinton Lions yesterday, bringing an end to his three-year reign with the Kingstone Press Championship outfit.
And Duffy, who represented Leigh, Widnes, Salford, Whitehaven, Warrington and Chorley, across an illustrious 16-year playing career, cannot wait to get started at the LD Nutrition Stadium.
“I am thrilled to be joining Featherstone, this is a huge opportunity for me and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead,” Duffy who at 16, in Warrington colours, became the youngest player to ever grace Super League, told the club's website,
“Featherstone is a massive club, with a proud history, and it is a privilege to be given the chance to join the long list of great coaches who have worked at the Rovers.
📠WE are delighted to announce the appointment of John Duffy as our new head coach!
— Featherstone Rovers (@FevRovers) July 18, 2017
âž¡ï¸ READ full details here: https://t.co/O16502D5di pic.twitter.com/h5iMvwzIwd
“I certainly buy in to the ethos surrounding the club and want to be a part of the journey it is going on.
“The Qualifiers are just around the corner but we have one final league game remaining, so I have time to get amongst the players and assess where the squad is at.
“These are exciting times for Rovers fans and I am sure the players are looking forward to ripping into the Super 8s next month.
“This has all happened very fast for me but the opportunity to join a club like Featherstone was one I could not afford to turn down.
“I have enjoyed my time at Swinton and learned a great deal while in charge.
“I am now looking forward to this, the next chapter in my coaching career, and am excited as to what the future holds here.”
Featherstone confirm appointment of former Swinton coach John Duffy as their new head coach with immediate effect pic.twitter.com/7cvpLG3zyF
— Aaron Bower (@AaronBower) July 18, 2017
Duffy takes charge as head coach with immediate effect and will take training for the first time tomorrow.
Chairman Mark Campbell added: “We are thrilled to have been able to secure John’s services.
“He is a fantastic coach and we are very excited to see how his reign here unfolds.
“We believe he has done a remarkable job in extremely difficult circumstances, at Swinton, and he deserves a great deal of credit for his efforts there.
“John and his team will receive our full support and we hope our fans will get behind the guys for the remainder of the season, going into a massive 2018 campaign.”
