Cowboys door open after split from coach Neil Henry

THE North Queensland Cowboys say they will start their hunt for Neil "King" Henry's replacement with a "clean sheet of paper".

THE North Queensland Cowboys say they will start their hunt for Neil "King" Henry's replacement with a "clean sheet of paper".

Despite numerous coaches being linked to one of the NRL's top jobs, chief executive Peter Jourdain said the club had no preconceived thoughts on who would fill the role.

As

, Henry was officially told by the Cowboys his services would not be required beyond this season.

The Cowboys want to make a decision before November 1, when the team begins pre-season training for the 2014 campaign.

"We haven't canvassed anybody in the market or approached anyone in the market," Jourdain said.

"We're going to start with a clean sheet of paper, see who is available and then work on a process from there."

Jourdain said he expected plenty of interest in the position, which would give the new coach access to one of the top playing rosters in the competition despite the club's run of poor results that sees it sit 13th on the ladder in 2013.

The CEO, along with chairman Laurence Lancini, met with Henry to tell him he would not see out his contract in 2014.

It is understood an agreement has been reached between the parties, but Jourdain said he would not reveal any specific details.

Henry, who will continue to coach North Queensland for the remaining six games, told his players the news at midday yesterday.

While Cowboys assistant coaches Peter Ryan and Terry Matterson will be able to apply for the head coach role, if they are unsuccessful it would appear unlikely the would be retained by a new mentor.

"Whoever is the coach would generally select their assistants, so there's no specific decision by us on that at this stage," Jourdain said.

Cowboys co-captain Johnathan Thurston says the players must take some responsibility in the demise of coach Neil Henry.

"It's very difficult for him and his family but unfortunately in this business the coach is in the firing line for results and players do have to take some of the responsibility for that, but I guess that's just the business that we're in," Thurston said.

"No doubt he's a great coach and tactically very smart.

"It's been fun playing beneath him, I've got a great relationship with him and it's going to be tough without him."

Australian captain Cameron Smith gave a ringing endorsement for Kevin Walters to succeed Henry.

"When you talk about credentials, I don't think there'd be too many better than Kevvie as far as a player's concerned," Smith said yesterday.

"He's won premierships; he's played State of Origin; he's represented Australia, he's been involved in the coaching game for a long time now."