WARRINGTON Wolves chief executive Karl Fitzpatrick is to fly to Australia tomorrow, Monday, as the search to find a new coach begins.

The club confirmed earlier today, Sunday, that Tony Smith was leaving his post at the end of the season.

So Fitzpatrick will fly Down Under on a week-long trip to look to find a replacement for the man who won three Challenge Cups with the Wire in his nine-year tenure.

He said: "We want to find the right man, not just any man, so we won't be rushing into it.

"The plan is to stay for a week to speak to people but it could be longer.

"We aren't looking exclusively in Australia but it is right to start there.

"When I return, we want a list of names for the board."

He said while there is no rush to replace Smith, who will stay in charge for the final two games of this season, recruitment will be a key task for a new boss before the 2018 season - especially after New Zealand centre Peta Hiku announced he would also be leaving at the end of the season. 

"We do have some space on the cap for next season so the options are there. It will be something we will be looking at over the next few months," he added.

And he added that recruitment remains a real challenge, with Australia boasting a far higher salary cap meaning players Down Under can earn more money than in the UK.