Cronulla face a hasty process to settle on a new coach before the NRL season, with interim John Morris no certainty to take over following Shane Flanagan's resignation on Monday. A month after being provisionally deregistered by the NRL for continued contact with the club during his 2014 ban, Flanagan conceded his nine-year reign was over. Five weeks before the Sharks' first trial match and seven weeks out from the season start, Flanagan said he was standing down in the club's best interests but still intends to respond to the NRL's show-cause notice before the January 31 deadline. Morris declared last week he wanted the job long-term if Flanagan didn't return, but the club said on Monday it would make an announcement on the role "in coming weeks". They should have no shortage of potential candidates to guide a seasoned squad capable of challenging for the title following last year's preliminary-finals exit. Despite his controversial stint at Manly, Trent Barrett would likely be among the favourites if Cronulla look outside, but Morris is well liked and was chosen ahead of fellow assistant Jim Dymock as interim earlier this month. Anthony Griffin is also available after being sacked by Penrith last year, while Adam O'Brien at the Sydney Roosters and Jason Demetriou at Souths are considered the next assistants in line for a head coaching role. Flanagan admitted his second heavy sanction from the NRL had been hard to deal with.
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