THE time for criticism of Paul Cullen is over.

It will probably come as little comfort for the departed Wolves head coach at this moment in time but Cullen can finally escape from the strain of having his every move debated.

Wolves fans were entitled to express their concerns about how things were going at the club and ultimately a parting of the ways was probably the only sensible solution.

But I sincerely hope that Cullen can now return to being one of Warrington's most revered townsfolk rather than being forever remembered for Monday night.

Cullen gave his all for Warrington Wolves and wanted what everyone else wanted - on-field success.

In the latter stages of his reign he could not make it happen but it was not for the want of trying.

The more Cullen insisted that he took no notice of the criticism, the more it became clear it was hurting him.

He is only human and to be criticised by people from your own town and supporters of your boyhood club must have been painful.

But dignified until the end, he shook the hands of everyone in the tunnel area and thanked them for their efforts after his exit was confirmed following Monday's match.

He then volunteered a brief quote for the Warrington Guardian when no-one would have blamed him for refusing to talk.

Cullen was always forthcoming in interviews and had a clear idea of what he wanted to say.

Ask one question and he'd answer five more you hadn't got around to asking.

If there was anything happening at the club that he thought would be of interest, he'd mention it at the end of an interview.

He was and I am sure still is passionate about the youth development programme in Warrington and was very knowledgeable about the talent coming through.

Given the intense pressure in recent times, some coaches could have been forgiven for forgetting all about the club's youth system.

But, even last week, he was trying to bring two more boys into the under 21s set-up from rugby union because it was the right thing for the club.

He had become gradually more guarded in interviews in recent times, though, as the criticism mounted.

Cullen was wary of his words being turned against him and the start to last week's Press conference appeared to be an ominous sign of the direction things were heading in.

As reported in last week's Warrington Guardian, Cullen was reluctant to even answer a standard team news question, which surprised journalists in the room.

He respectfully made it clear that he did not want to say too much because he did not want to be seen as making injuries an excuse. But he was understanding about the questions that needed to be posed, given the nature of the previous defeat at Wigan.

I ended my interview with him last week by, as always, wishing him good luck for the next game against Castleford.

"I'm going to need it," he said.

He may not have got that luck on Monday but I am sure I am not the only person in Warrington hoping fortune is on his side in whatever he chooses to do next.