St Pat's Group 10 premier league player-coach Luke Branighan will not return to club in 2020

Branighan was informed earlier this week that his coaching services wouldn't be required next year but it's confirmed the five-eighth will see out the remaining four weeks of the 2019 season.

Pat's began this season with plenty of promise, winning their opening two games, before a five-game losing streak hurt the team's finals chances badly.

Their most recent three games were particularly painful for the club as they dropped matches against Bathurst Panthers, Cowra Magpies and Oberon Tigers from winnable positions in the second half.

It was those run of matches which sealed the committee's decision.

Pat's president Dave Chapman emphasised that the Saints' premier league squad failed to live up to expectations this season.

"The senior playing group have contributed to this as well," he said.

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"We're happy with the shape the club is in with our ladies league tag, under 18s and reserve grade teams all getting ready for finals ... but this is three years in a row where we've missed finals in premier league.

"Luke needs to live and die by the sword but the current playing group needs to shoulder just as much of the poor results as the captain-coach."

Chapman spoke highly of Branighan's character and said he would love to see him thrive with another club.

"It was a really difficult conversation for me to have with Luke throughout the course of this week, which culminated in the decision to go our separate ways at the conclusion of this season," he said.

"Sadly the results haven't followed on from his hard work. I feel he's got a lot to offer other clubs and his footballing mind is exceptional.

"I'd be the first to say, and I'm sure Luke would put his hand up and agree, that father time stops for no-one, and I can see that he wants to achieve a lot physically on the field himself but it's a sad reality that he can't perform at the level he's accustomed to."

"We want to finish this year as strongly as we can to try and springboard ourselves into what should hopefully be a more positive 2020."

Pat's have matches against the Mudgee Dragons, Orange CYMS, Orange Hawks and Blayney Bears to end the season.

The Saints' finals hopes are mathematically alive but it would require wins in all their matches plus other results to go their way.

Branighan was quick to confirm he was fine to see out the remaining month of play.

"That's a sign of his professionalism," Chapman said of that decision.

"There's a lot of white noise going on for Luke and the club this week because the decision has been made.

"Luke was the first to say he'd be on hand to finish the job and that's a big credit to him."